EuroBasket 2025: Greece faces Lithuania in battle for semifinal spot

Vassilis Spanoulis spoke about Greece’s past struggles in knockout games, joking: “If you keep counting, it will be 26, 36, 56 years.” Thanasis Antetokounmpo emphasized the team’s experience in tough venues, stating: “The boys have played in tough arenas; we just need to follow our plan.” Panagiotis Kalaitzakis added: “Whoever is having a good day should score as many points as possible; the main thing is to win.”

Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas also shared his thoughts ahead of the game, mentioning Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Greek team’s strong three-point shooting. Coach Kazys Kurtinaitis commented: “Giannis has learned to play FIBA basketball; Spanoulis is like Jasikevicius.”

Earlier in the day, Turkey defeated Poland 91–77 to secure their place in the semifinals.

Greece and Lithuania have faced each other 27 times at the men’s level, with the Greek team claiming 16 victories. Detailed results:

09/06/1992 (Piraeus – Friendly) 83-81
03/06/1995 (Lyon – Friendly) 80-84
22/06/1995 (Athens – EuroBasket) 73-89
30/06/1996 (Berlin – Friendly) 77-57
16/07/1996 (Chicago – Friendly) 83-85
30/07/1996 (Atlanta – Olympic Games) 66-99
29/06/1997 (Girona – EuroBasket) 73-66
08/07/1998 (Nicosia – Friendly) 82-68
23/06/1999 (Dijon – EuroBasket) 64-82
23/08/2001 (Marousi – Friendly) 75-73
16/06/2002 (Marousi – Friendly) 78-44
20/06/2002 (Alassio – Friendly) 84-69
17/07/2004 (Bormio – Friendly) 79-92
28/07/2004 (Glyfada – Friendly) 65-64
07/08/2004 (Madrid – Friendly) 88-75
19/08/2004 (Elliniko – Olympic Games) 76-98
20/08/2006 (Hamamatsu – World Cup) 81-76
20/08/2007 (Marousi – Friendly) 78-71
16/09/2007 (Madrid – EuroBasket) 69-78
26/08/2009 (Marousi – Friendly) 75-73
17/09/2011 (Kaunas – EuroBasket) 69-73
17/06/2012 (Kaunas – Friendly) 82-70
28/08/2013 (Marousi – Friendly) 80-62
16/08/2014 (Kaunas – Friendly) 67-86
29/08/2015 (Marousi – Friendly) 67-62
09/09/2017 (Istanbul – EuroBasket) 77-64
01/09/2023 (Manila – World Cup) 67-72

Quarterfinal Schedule:

09/09

17:00 Turkey – Poland 91-77
21:00 Greece – Lithuania

10/09

17:00 Finland – Georgia
21:00 Germany – Slovenia

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