Home Basketball The Boomers’ brutal path to World Cup glory explained as Luka Doncic duel awaits

The Boomers’ brutal path to World Cup glory explained as Luka Doncic duel awaits

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The Boomers’ brutal path to World Cup glory explained as Luka Doncic duel awaits

The Boomers’ dream of FIBA World Cup glory remains alive after Australia comprehensively beat co-hosts Japan on Tuesday night to progress to the next round.

But there’s still a long, hard ahead in the quest for a historic medal with Brian Goorjian’s team thrust into another tough group, where a unique tournament format means they’ll have be at considerable disadvantage against a team that’s already beaten them in this tournament.

Tuesday night’s victory secured Australia’s progression to the second round as the second placed team in Group E. Unbeaten Germany topped the group after an upset win over the Boomers on Sunday.

FIBA Basketball World Cup | Watch every Australian Boomers and Team USA game plus the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Final FREE & LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Freebies. Join Freebies now, no credit card required >

Giddey bags double-double against Japan | 00:36

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

The unique FIBA format for the tournament features two group stages, with the Boomers booking one of four spots in Group K.

Notably, results from the first round carry over and the top two teams of each first round group are placed in the same group in the second stage, but do not play each other again. That’s significant because of tiebreak rules (see explanation below) that means Germany would progress ahead of Australia if they finish equal on points. It means, in all likelihood, the Boomers are going to have to win both of their matches in the second round to progress to the knockout stage.

The other two teams in Group J will come from Group F and are yet to be confirmed, although Slovenia — led by NBA superstar Luka Doncic — is in pole position to top the group with Georgia, Cape Verde and Venezuela fighting it out for the other spot.

Should Slovenia finish top of the Group after Wednesday night’s matches they will be the Boomers’ next opponents, on Friday night, in a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal playoff.

The tournament follows a standard knockout format of quarter-finals, semi-final and final beyond that. Should the Boomers get through they would face an opponent out of Group L — currently featuring defending champions Spain, Canada, Latvia and a to-be-determined team — in the last eight. The semi-finals would be the earliest possible stage Australia could run into tournament favourites USA.

Australia has never won a medal at the world championships — losing the third place game to France in 2019 — but have set high expectations after securing a first Olympic medal in Tokyo two years ago.

BOOMERS RESULTS SO FAR

Australia def. Finland 98-72

Australia lost to Germany 85-82

Australia def Japan 109-89

FINISHING ORDER AND QUALIFIERS FROM EVERY FIBA WORLD CUP GROUP

Group A: Dominican Republic, Italy, Angola, Philippines

Group B: Serbia, Puerto Rico, South Sudan, China (one round of games remaining)

Group C: USA (guaranteed to advance), Greece, New Zealand, Jordan (eliminated) (one round of games remaining)

Group D:Lithuania, Montenegro, Egypt, Mexico,

Group E: Germany, Australia, Japan, Finland

Group F: Slovenia, Georgia, Cape Verde, Venezuela (one round of games remaining)

Group G: Spain (guaranteed to advance), Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire, Iran (eliminated) (one round of games remaining)

Group H: Canada, Latvia, France, Lebanon

SECOND ROUND GROUPS AND FORMAT

GROUP I: Dominican Republic, Group B winner, Italy, Group B 2nd place finisher

GROUP J: USA, Lithuania, Group C 2nd place finisher, Montenegro

GROUP K: Germany, Group F winner, Australia, Group F 2nd place finisher

GROUP L: Spain, Canada, Group G 2nd place finisher, Latvia

The top two teams in each group advance to the quarter-finals. If teams finish on equal on points tiebreaks will be determined by the head-to-head record between teams (at any point in the tournament), points difference between tied teams, then overall points difference

FIBA Basketball World Cup | Watch every Australian Boomers and Team USA game plus the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Final FREE & LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Freebies. Join Freebies now, no credit card required >

Team USA ease past Giannis-less Greece | 01:05

KNOCKOUT STAGE FORMAT AND DATES

QUARTER FINALS (September 5-6)

QF1: Winner of Group I vs 2nd place Group J

QF2: Winner of Group J vs 2nd place Group I

QF3: Winner of Group K vs 2nd place Group L

QF4: Winner of Group L vs 2nd place Group K

SEMI-FINALS (September 8)

SF1: Winner of QF 1 vs Winner of QF3

SF2: Winner of QF2 vs Winner of QF4

FINAL & THIRD PLACE GAME (September 10)

Winner of SF1 vs Winner of SF2

Loser of SF1 vs Loser of SF2

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