U20 EuroBasket Day 1: Perfect Start for Slovenia, Germany Upsets Italy in Opening Statement

FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2026: Day 1 Round-Up – Slovenia Opens Strong in Ljubljana

The 27th edition of the FIBA U20 EuroBasket officially tipped off on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Arena Stožice in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Eight Group Phase matches delivered drama, upsets, and standout performances across all four groups on an action-packed opening day.

Group A: Germany Stuns Defending Champions Italy

In one of the biggest results of the day, Germany delivered a statement performance, defeating defending champions Italy 85–67. The Germans were dominant throughout, refusing to let the Italians find any rhythm. In the second game of Group A, France cruised past Turkey 79–57, with the French showing impressive depth and offensive firepower from the opening tip.

Group B: Lithuania Dominates Latvia

Group B produced a stunning result as Lithuania demolished Latvia 104–78, with the Lithuanians putting on a clinic in what was the highest-scoring game of the day. Serbia also got off to a winning start, defeating Poland 84–67 in a physical and competitive encounter that went down to the wire.

Group C: Spain and Croatia Win Openers

Group C saw two convincing victories. Spain proved too strong for Belgium, winning 81–58, while Croatia edged out Greece 69–64 in the closest game of the day — a tightly contested battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

Group D: Host Slovenia Impresses on Home Court

The home crowd at Arena Stožice had plenty to cheer about as Slovenia opened their campaign with a commanding 77–54 victory over Czech Republic. The Slovenians were energized by the passionate home support and delivered a disciplined, well-organized performance. Mark Padjen was particularly impressive, recording 8 assists and 5 steals to lead the way for the hosts.

In the other Group D game, Israel defeated Romania 78–68, setting up a fascinating top-of-the-group clash between Slovenia and Israel in the next round.

Day 1 Results Summary

• Group A: Italy 67 – 85 Germany | Turkey 57 – 79 France
• Group B: Serbia 84 – 67 Poland | Latvia 78 – 104 Lithuania
• Group C: Belgium 58 – 81 Spain | Croatia 69 – 64 Greece
• Group D: Slovenia 77 – 54 Czech Republic | Romania 68 – 78 Israel

What's Next?

Day 2 continues on Sunday