Preview: Can unbeaten Türkiye end top-four wait against surging Poland?

RIGA (Latvia) – After coming out on top of their tough Round of 16 matchups, Türkiye and Poland are in the hunt for something more at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

These two teams will clash in what promises to be a very interesting opening Quarter-Final matchup with much on the line – Poland are looking to continue another fairytale whereas still unbeaten Türkiye want to achieve podium glory after more than two decades.

It’s a game with high stakes for Türkiye who positioned themselves as one of the leading candidates for the podium, thus putting the pressure of expectations on themselves. However, history will need to be written for that to happen as Türkiye have made it into the top four only twice so far – in 1949 and in 2001 on home soil.

Can Ergin Ataman’s well-oiled machine continue its unbeaten run and do something big? Poland also have a say in this as Igor Milicic is once again leading a group of reliable, tough players who bow to no-one and are always on the lookout to stir up some upsets.

How did they get here

Türkiye survive Swedish comeback for first Quarter-Final in 16 years

Top eight again: Poland down Dragons to advance

Precisely that happened in 2022 when Mateusz Ponitka led Poland into the Semi-Finals and he’s looking to replicate that, but this time with Jordan Loyd’s help. Can this dynamic duo overcome Alperen Sengun and co?

Did you know?

• Türkiye are back in the EuroBasket Quarter-Finals for the first time since 2009, but they have won in just one of
  their previous four top eight appearances – against Croatia in 2001.

• This is Poland’s fourth time competing in the Quarter-Finals and will try to reach the Semi-Finals for the
  second time in a row.

• Ergin Ataman has won 67 percent of his games at EuroBasket (12 out of 18), the best winning percentage for a
  coach with Türkiye in the competition.

_{All information has been provided by Opta.}

What else to read

Six straight wins: Is this the best Türkiye team of all time?

FIBA