EuroBasket 2025 – Bosnia and Herzegovina – The upcoming European Championship will be crucial for the “Dragons” who have been waiting to get out of the group stage since 1993.
Looking at the previous period, many times they would stop right on the edge between success and complete failure, and often, not to say always, they would end up on the latter side, while others would pat them on the shoulder and say: “next EuroBasket is yours.”
It should not be hidden that the youth selections of Bosnia and Herzegovina do not look good. The golden medal of the Under-16 national team from 2015 is far away. Those boys grew into young men, and some of them are still here, like Dzanan Musa, who, however, won’t be available at this EuroBasket.
This generation of “Dragons” doesn’t have much left in this composition, and this year’s EuroBasket will be one of the last chances to break the barrier of failing to get out of the group stage.
The memories of 2013 are still fresh, but at some point the players of Bosnia and Herzegovina must free themselves from the aura of being the best losers and embrace that of winners, even if they were to become the worst winners in the history of mankind.
It cannot be otherwise. If not, they will remain stuck in quicksand, trying to free themselves from the shackles while sinking deeper, until they are completely written off.
The pressure on these players is immeasurable, but they must be aware that they are the creators of their own destiny and that their opponents certainly won’t move aside. Why would they, when everyone is chasing basketball immortality at the expense of others?
Numerous matches against much better teams than those in their group have shown that they play better when the opponent is stronger. Perhaps only then do they remember to ignite their stubbornness, of which they should have plenty.
Beating Cyprus and Georgia, two opponents of much lower or similar rank, is a must to begin with. After that, the “fight” with Spain, Greece, and Italy should say a lot about their character and their desire to stop being, as mentioned earlier, the best losers and become the worst winners.
Photo: FIBA
EuroBasket – historical overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina
This year’s EuroBasket will be the 11th in which Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate.
The two best generations took part exactly 20 years apart. The first, in 1993, finished in eighth place in Germany, after passing the first group and then being stopped by Croatia (98:78) in the quarterfinals.
From 1993 to 2011, they recorded only one victory, and then at EuroBasket in Lithuania they won two, but were eliminated due to head-to-head results in a three-team tie with Finland (advanced) and Croatia (did not advance).
Then came the autumn of 2013 and perhaps the biggest missed opportunity. Opening losses to Latvia and then Serbia were quickly forgotten after wins over North Macedonia and Montenegro.
Next came the game against Lithuania. The “Dragons” were better throughout the match and were aiming for a 12-point win that would secure advancement to the next round. Midway through the fourth quarter they led by 16 points, but then came a complete collapse, and Bosnia ended up winning by “only” six points, which was not enough to advance.
Thus, they became the only team in European Championship history to be eliminated in the group stage with a positive record.
Road to EuroBasket 2025 – Bosnia and Herzegovina
A night to remember – Adis Beciragic’s men achieved one of the most legendary comebacks in the history of EuroBasket qualifiers.
After a win against Cyprus and a loss to France, came a double clash with Croatia. Both national teams had Euroleague players available only in the game in Sarajevo’s Skenderija. Just a few days earlier, Croatia had won by 13 points and it looked like they could already start booking flights to EuroBasket.
However, fate – and the players of Bosnia and Herzegovina – had different plans. After an even first half, the “Dragons” went on a 16–0 run, causing a complete eruption in the packed Skenderija.
The lead gained at the start of the second half was preserved until the end of the game, and they eventually won by 20 points.
A win against Cyprus, combined with Croatia’s loss to France, was enough for them to qualify for EuroBasket, and that’s what happened. In the last round, in a match with no significance, they lost to France after a game-winning shot by Elie Okobo.
EuroBasket 2025 – Bosnia and Herzegovina’s opponents
EuroBasket 2025 will be hosted across four countries: Cyprus, Poland, Finland, and Latvia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will compete in Group C, with all group-stage games set to be played in Limassol.
Group C teams:
- Spain
- Greece
- Italy
- Georgia
- Bosna and Herzegovina
- Cyprus (host)
| @BSphere_ INTERVIEW – Guerschon Yabusele (@yabusele28) |
🔹 About the role of the captain in the national team
🔹 About dunking over LeBron James
🔹 About important absences at EuroBasket
🔹 Why New York Knicks over the Denver Nuggets?https://t.co/W7yk91q6tU
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) August 9, 2025
What will Bosnia and Herzegovina’s roster look like?
Head coach Adis Beciragic has chosen his 12 participants. The main storyline are the absences of Xavier Castaneda and Dzanan Musa.
Castaneda is out due to injury and lack of fitness, while Musa underwent abdominal surgery just weeks before the tournament. Reportedly, the injury stemmed from a hit in a friendly, and after initial news that he wouldn’t travel to Belgium, his PR team later announced the surgery in Munich.
Another absence is Luka Garza, now with the Boston Celtics. The coach decided he didn’t need another big, since those positions are well covered, and Garza isn’t a “domestic” player but one with an asterisk next to his name.
Due to Castaneda’s injury and Musa’s absence, Beciragic called John Roberson, who has previously played for Bosnia and Herzegovina and understands the system.
Miralem Halilovic, Jusuf Nurkic, Amar Alibegovic, Adnan Arslanagic, Edin Atic, Amar Gegic, Ajdin Penava, Aleksandar Lazic, Adin Vrabac, John Roberson, Kenan Kamenjas, Tarik Hrelja.
EuroBasket 2025 – Bosnia and Herzegovina: Three most important figures
Jusuf Nurkic – How much the “Bosnian Beast” means to this team can never truly be described. By far the best player, offensively and defensively. In defense he is like an anchor, always ready to protect the rim. Strong enough that playing post-up against him is a nightmare. In attack, always willing to play, even when things aren’t working. His biggest flaws: fouls and forcing ball handling after rebounds, something he’s not nearly as good at as others. With Musa absent, his role grows even more, as the only real star. His fitness will be crucial—whether he can carry all that weight on his shoulders.
Edin Atic – With Musa, Castaneda, and Garza out, Bosnia will need a new option in attack, and who better than the king of irrational self-confidence? From shutting down Luka Doncic to sinking into inexplicably deep holes in his game. If he shows up in his best version, Atic will be an incredible weapon. If not, the bench is the only solution. A so-called ace up the sleeve, but also a Russian roulette with five bullets. Bosnia has only one true playmaker, so Atic’s ability as a secondary creator and ball handler will be vital. Of course, his turnover-heavy games are inevitable, but when he’s “on,” he can do serious damage.
John Roberson – Strange as it sounds, one of the key players is someone who wasn’t even supposed to be here a few days ago. Circumstances brought Roberson back. As they say, a necessary evil. The coach knows all his strengths and weaknesses, but simply had no choice. He can hit threes, he can create, but he’s short and no longer quick. In today’s basketball, punishing big men who drop on pick-and-rolls is a must – and Roberson is good at that, especially in today’s game. Defensively, he’s a liability, and hiding him won’t work. Still, Bosnia’s strength has been defense, so maybe they find ways to compensate. But without two of their three main offensive options, scoring will be a huge problem.
| @bsphere_ INTERVIEW – Mikael Jantunen |
▫️ On Finland’s chances at EuroBasket
▫️ On playing with Lauri Markkanen
▫️ Why he chose Fenerbahce
▫️ On Sarunas Jasikevicius and Tuomas Iisalohttps://t.co/uw9KDOvjMI
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) August 8, 2025
Head coach – Adis Beciragic
Adis Beciragic, or as FIBA likes to write Aziz Bekir, will be talked about when his era on the “Dragons’” bench comes to an end.
A member of Bosnia’s best generation from 1993, successful at the club level, but as he said for Basketball Sphere, always with a sword hanging above his head.
Many have long forgotten that Beciragic stepped in back in 2022 when no coach wanted to hear about leading Bosnia and Herzegovina, after the unexpected departure of his predecessor Vedran Bosnic.
Sharp-tongued, with just the right dose of life philosophy, of which many could learn. He does not hesitate to say things as they are, and he expects only the best from his players. Simply, without that, there is no success, and without success you are, practically, no one and nothing.
With Bosnia and Herzegovina this will be his second major tournament. At the last one, he was close to reaching the second round, but wins against Hungary and then-defending champions Slovenia were not enough.
Wasting time thinking about whether he lacks motivation or whether he will “die” for the success of his national team is pointless. If he has shown anything in these three years, it’s that he cares.
Every interview would begin with “greetings to everyone who loves this country and this national team,” which clearly shows what’s on his mind – the country and the national team. What more could you ask from a coach?
From a tactical standpoint, there isn’t much room to maneuver. Bosnia has what it has, and with athletic lineups focused on rebounding (defensive and offensive), fast transition offense/defense, and maximum aggression in defence, Beciragic has had success so far, so it’s expected that he won’t stray too far from these principles.
EuroBasket 2025 – Bosnia and Herzegovina: Expectations
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s main goal is to secure passage to the knockout phase. A win over Cyprus is expected, followed by a battle with Georgia for that fourth spot. On paper, they are two evenly matched teams, not particularly good shooters, but capable of catching fire if things go their way.
One must be realistic and admit that Spain and Greece have not shown their peak form, but they are still favorites in this group, along with Italy, which looks the best of all. There is always room for a surprise, and the “Dragons” have long shown that they play their best against the best, so scalps are no longer much of a shock.
One has to be objective and say that advancing from the group is the primary goal, and only then can other things be considered. Without wasting time on clichés and polls where they are regularly among the top “dark horses,” it is realistic to believe that both fans and players would be satisfied with reaching the knockout stage, while every win after that would be like hitting the jackpot.
Betting Options
BetLabel offers numerous betting options at this EuroBasket, including the number of wins in the group stage, the stage in which a national team will be eliminated, as well as many other specials.
In their full lineup without injuries, Bosnia and Herzegovina would have to put in a lot of effort to finally secure a spot in the knockout stage of the tournament. Without Musa, Castaneda, and some other players, it makes sense to consider the option that Nurkic and his teammates will finish their EuroBasket already after the games in Cyprus.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina to be eliminated in the group stage – 1.60
Some other interesting bets:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina to be eliminated in the Round of 16 – 2.50
- Bosnia and Herzegovina to win over 2.5 games in the group stage – 3.79
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