Croatia on verge of missing Eurobasket for first time in history

Croatia in action against Bosnia and Herzegovina tonight  (Photo credit: Fiba.basketball)

The Croatian basketball team has suffered an upset defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday night.

After beating them three days in Zagreb, Croatia went down 110-90 in Sarajevo during the fourth round of EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers.

Mario Hezonja, with 28 points, was Croatia’s higher point scorer tonight.

This loss was more decisive than their victory, where Croatia had won by 13 points.

(Photo credit: Fiba.basketball)

As a result, Bosnia and Herzegovina now hold the advantage in head-to-head encounters and are in a much stronger position to qualify for the European tournament.

Both teams currently hold a 2-2 record. France, the overwhelming favourite in the group, leads with a perfect 4-0 record, while Cyprus, the outsider, sits at the bottom with 0-4.

However, as one of the host nations, Cyprus is guaranteed a place in the EuroBasket.

This unique situation means that, unlike in other groups, three teams are competing for two qualification spots. With France dominating, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are effectively vying for a single remaining spot.

For Croatia to qualify, they must either defeat France at home in the fifth round or hope for Bosnia and Herzegovina to stumble against Cyprus.

Croatia would then need to secure a victory in their final game away to Cyprus. These crucial matches are scheduled for 21 and 24 February 2025.

Since these dates do not conflict with the EuroLeague calendar, all players should be available except for those based in the United States.