EuroBasket 2025 kicks off with a scene-setter: France, fresh off Olympic silver, take on the determined Lions of Belgium. It’s the class act versus the scrappy challenger—an opener that sets the tone for the tournament.
Match Essentials
- When & Where: Thursday, August 28 at 11 a.m. ET at Katowice’s Spodek Arena. Streaming live on Courtside 1891.
- What’s at stake: France roll in ranked fourth in the world, coming off an Olympic silver—expectation is piled high. Belgium, at No. 40, enter as underdogs—but with enough grit to raise eyebrows.
What to Watch
| Team | Storyline |
|---|---|
| France | No Wembanyama, Gobert, Batum, or Fournier—but don’t sleep on the Washington Wizards combo: Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr. Add in facilitator Guerschon Yabusele and it’s a lineup built on fresh legs and fresh hunger. |
| Belgium | A unit forged in discipline, team-oriented energy, and underdog unity under coach Dario Gjergja. No NBA stars, but Ismael Bako brings raw EuroLeague presence and interior muscle. |
The Matchup Edge
Belgium defied expectations in qualifiers, splitting wins versus Spain and Slovakia. France, despite roster shakeups, wrapped up preparation unbeaten, defeating heavyweights like Spain and Greece.
Moneylines and spreads tell the same story: heavy lean to France, with odds ranging from –18.5 spread to lion-hearted optimism for the Belgian crowd.
Clutch Crunch Take
The mismatch on paper is real. But EuroBasket thrives on the unexpected. Belgium are hungry, tough, and battle-tested in qualifiers. France may lack star names, but they bring collective firepower and Olympic experience. If Belgium wants an upset, they’ll need max defense, minimal turnovers, and insane energy from tipoff. Otherwise, this is Les Bleus’ tournament to launch with authority.