All Purpose FIBA World Cup Wild Card Thread

[Mindozas6]

This site is reporting that China and Russia have withdrawn from consideration:

http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20140...-borra-del-mundial-de-espana_54399746531.html

http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/fimes-gia-aposursi-kinas-kai-rwsias-gia-wild-card/747596

Anyone can confirm this true or not?

I found this for China: http://cbachina.sports.sohu.com/20140131/n394432698.shtml

No comments from Russian federation for now. While NT coach knows nothing about it, but he'd understand and would accept it if it were truth. Actually, Russian withdrawal wouldn't surprise me at all, their federation is in big mess for some time now.

 

[Mindozas6]

So finally Russian bball federation (RFB) president Anikeeva gave a speach and said that they didn't withdraw their bid for wildcard. Their one representative is already in Spain to take part in meetings. She thinks that Russia still has a chance, but federation's internal problems might be an obstacle for FIBA to give it to Russia

 

[CKR132]

According to a tweet by sportando, Yvan Manini confirmed that China and Russia have withdrawn.

 

[sixama232]

According to a tweet by sportando, Yvan Manini confirmed that China and Russia have withdrawn.

I m wondering what will happen in case Senegal misses the WC. How they will fill in the extra free spot? Will it be Ivory Coast or an extra wildcard?

In a quite recent interview, the president of the Greek federation, Mr Georgios Vasilakopoulos, claimed that two wildcards will be given to Europe, one to America and the last one will go to Asia. He underlined that Brazil and China shouldn't be considered as locks because Canada and Qatar are strong contenders as well. I usually don't take his words for granted but I know he has a very good relationship with the Qatari president of FIBA Asia. So, I won't be surprised if FIBA grants Qatar a wildcard.

IMO, Greece and Turkey are locks. Brazil should get the American berth and I think that Qatar will get the last wildcard.

Also, if Senegal won't participate, I reckon Nigeria could get an extra wildcard. I'd love to see them playing in the WC.

 

[CKR132]

Thanks for the update. From what I read, if Senegal forfeits its participation, Ivory Coast will participate instead by virtue of their 4th place Afrobasket finish.

 

[Kings2]

Italian journalist Andrea Barocci reported on Twitter that Finland, Greece, Turkey and Brazil received the wild card for FIBA World Cup.

The official announcement is expected soon.

 

[GreenFan2]

Yeah. Greece, Turkey, Finland and Brazil are the four teams.

I'm very happy to see Greece in the WC, I think we deserved it. Happy to see Finland there as well!

 

[sixama232]

Yeah. Greece, Turkey, Finland and Brazil are the four teams.

I'm very happy to see Greece in the WC, I think we deserved it. Happy to see Finland there as well!

I m also happy to see Finland there. IMO they deserved the wild card: Decent performances in the last two Eurobaskets, developing basketball fan base and a clever bid support (Angry Birds). We shouldn't forget that they beat both Greece & Turkey in Eurobasket 2013.

Glad to see a lot of developing basketball countries in the tournament: Finland, Mexico, DR, Philippines, Ukraine. No offence but I would prefer to have Canada or Nigeria instead of Turkey. They have been disappointing in almost every international tournament that took place outside of Turkey.

 

[Picek2]

I'm very happy to see Greece in the WC, I think we deserved it.

you payed for it, didn't deserve it..

FIBA is a joke with decisions like this..
Finland playing at world championship is a joke..

 

[Silent Killer2]

3 europeans get the wildcard tickets. The other one should've given to african country. Turkey got in due to their 2nd place showing last 2010.

 

[Dirtyh2]

you payed for it, didn't deserve it..

FIBA is a joke with decisions like this..
Finland playing at world championship is a joke..

Your opinion is as valid as mine. Look at the results of previous years and you see that Finland is getting better and better. Two days ago I tried to say that solid performances in last two Eurobasket, 3000-5000 travelling fans (including me and my friends again) and Angry Birds means something. No one listened. This is maybe one of the happiest days in my life.

 

[Toxicity2]

Greece, Turkey and Finland all defeated by Italy in the last EC... i guess coach Pianigiani should be very angry right now...

 

[Picek2]

Your opinion is as valid as mine. Look at the results of previous years and you see that Finland is getting better and better. Two days ago I tried to say that solid performances in last two Eurobasket, 3000-5000 travelling fans (including me and my friends again) and Angry Birds means something. No one listened. This is maybe one of the happiest days in my life.

don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against Finland..
I even have sunglasses in finish flag which I exchanged with a finnish fan after our game in Ljubljana 'cause I liked you guys..
professionally I'm working with finnish companies and i'm visiting Finland three-four times a year..
but that doesn't change the fact that Finland on a basketball WC is a joke..
without proper youth program, with single decent result coming on last EC..
before that it was a problem to even participate on EC..
and now all of a sudden a WC participant?
after this generation is done who will play basketball in Finland?
hell, Mottola was at recent EC with 37 on his back..
no history in club basketball either..
Finland is a non existing basketball market and they are now a WC participant..
FIBA should be dismantled and all of their officials hanged..
not because of Finland at WC but because of wild card system in the first place..

 

[Liha2]

Yeah. Greece, Turkey, Finland and Brazil are the four teams.

I'm very happy to see Greece in the WC, I think we deserved it. Happy to see Finland there as well!

I m also happy to see Finland there. IMO they deserved the wild card: Decent performances in the last two Eurobaskets, developing basketball fan base and a clever bid support (Angry Birds). We shouldn't forget that they beat both Greece & Turkey in Eurobasket 2013.

Glad to see a lot of developing basketball countries in the tournament: Finland, Mexico, DR, Philippines, Ukraine. No offence but I would prefer to have Canada or Nigeria instead of Turkey. They have been disappointing in almost every international tournament that took place outside of Turkey.

High five! I'm very happy about this and was sceptical about getting a spot. I do agree with Toxicity that Italia would've also deserved a spot, but do think both Finland and Greece are worthy of a spot.

 

[cagney2]

When you consider that Russia, China, Italy and Germany were out of contention and Brazil, Greece and Turkey were pretty sure bets that didn't leave a particularly impressive group to pick from for the final slot. I'd say that Finland arguably played the strongest basketball of any of the other contenders this past summer and has a solid fan base that will show up in Spain. I wouldn't say they're likely to emerge as a powerful basketball nation any time soon but I don't think it's a joke that they got the spot.

I'd also add that I respect China for pulling their bid. They've been struggling for a number of years now and after the embarrassing showing this past summer I think it's clear they're better off regrouping and focusing on regaining thier supremacy in Asia.

I'm not a fan of the wild card system but I'm skeptical of how well the new qualification process will work. If 2019 rolls around and a number of top basketball countries aren't competing because of difficulties putting together competitive rosters throughout the qualification process I think there'll be plenty of outcry.

 

[Dtown2]

Wow never would have guessed this result months ago out of those four the only one I was calling a sure thing was Brazil. Glad we're ditching the wild cards going forward, even if the new competition system is iffy as hell.

 

[tres equis2]

Finland was one of the teams that i would have given a wildcard, the other teams i would have chosen are italy, canada and brasil.

 

[Federoy2]

I believe Finland is a good addition to the WC. Sure, they're not historically a good basketball playing nation, but this birth should spark further interest in the sport and hopefully help grow and develop the game in Finland. As others have pointed out, Finland has slowly emerged as a player on the Eurobasket scene, and I look forward to seeing how they progress in future tournaments.

Greece and Brazil are logical choices...both countries have the pedigree and legacy behind them, although Brazil is less deserving of the birth considering how competitively weak the Americas Championship was last summer. As for Turkey, they sort of get picked by default with Russia, China, and Italy deciding to set this one out. Personally, I would have added a team from another region (Canada, Ivory Coast, Chinese Taipei, Qatar or Venezuela), but FIBA pretty much insured it would be a short list with their ridiculous "pay to play" policy.

 

[GreenFan2]

you payed for it, didn't deserve it..

FIBA is a joke with decisions like this..

Everyone paid for it, smartass. That's not a valid criterion to make your assumption. Greece's strong card wasn't the money.

We deserved it because from all the teams Greece had the best results in the recent competitions (collectively), is higher in the FIBA ranking, Greece's teams are dominating in Euroleague having 4 of the latest 5 Euroleague titles - an indication of basketball tradition and love for the sport- and we have never gotten a wild card before. Never. Like it or not, we deserved one of the wild cards.

 

[Dirtyh2]

without proper youth program, with single decent result coming on last EC..
before that it was a problem to even participate on EC..
and now all of a sudden a WC participant?
after this generation is done who will play basketball in Finland?
hell, Mottola was at recent EC with 37 on his back..
no history in club basketball either..

You have to remember that with out wild card system Finland would have been there anyway. And this time we're talking about this team, not past not future, and this Finnish team is pretty good.

I think you're about Finnish youth system. There's very potential players in '94-98 born kids (at least 2 PG's who's gonna make it big time) but we all know our eternal problem with big guys. BTW, Möttölä said that he will continue his career. I'd like see him in coaching staff but you know, maybe Eric Murphy (hate see him in our NT) or Jonas Caven should have taken instead of him.