The lights dimmed, the anthems rang out, and the long-awaited Group D action at FIBA EuroBasket 2025 finally tipped off with Israel and Iceland taking center stage.
The clash brought together two fanbases that sang, shouted, and willed their teams on from the opening possession.
What followed was a game of contrasts: Israel leaning on power and depth, Iceland relying on speed and spacing. In the end, only one formula held up, as Israel imposed its will to secure an 83-71 win and start the tournament on the right foot.
Roman Sorkin became the night’s headline story with a spectacular offensive display, scoring 31 points on efficient shooting and reminding everyone of his value on the international stage.
“I’m happy my shots fell down, my teammates found me. The most important thing is the win that we got, the rest doesn’t matter. It’s a long tournament,” he said, adding that neutralizing Iceland’s towering center was a shared task: “It took group work to stop Tryggvi Hlinason; he’s an amazing player, and it was a pleasure to play against him.”
Right alongside him, Deni Avdija showcased his all-around game. Though his outside shot wasn’t falling (0-of-5 from three), the Portland Trail Blazers forward made up for it with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks, proving he could bend the game in multiple ways.
Momentum swung back and forth in the first half. Israel jumped out with a 10-0 burst and held an eight-point lead early, but Iceland, powered by Hlinason’s presence in the paint, clawed back to trail only 36-32 at halftime. For a moment, it seemed Iceland might flip the script.
Instead, the third quarter belonged entirely to Israel. Ariel Beit-Halahmy’s squad opened with relentless pressure, stretched the margin to 17 points, and tightened defensively to the point that Iceland committed both an eight-second violation and a backcourt turnover in quick succession.
“It was very important, the first game is always very hard, and it’s something you work for the whole summer. Our opponents weren’t easy to face, but I’m glad we found a way in the second half,” Beit-Halahmy reflected. “We will get better in the next games, but it’s important to win the first one.”
Iceland’s shooting woes doomed them. Known for their transition game and willingness to let it fly, they misfired badly, hitting just 5-of-29 from three-point range.
Their veteran leader, Martin Hermannsson, had an uncharacteristically tough night, scoring just 4 points on 2-of-14 from the field.
Coach Craig Pedersen didn’t hide the issues but emphasized perspective: “I think we did a lot of good things; we had some problems with their physicality and size. We need to shoot the ball better, but I’m happy we were able to create so many good shots.”
Bright spots did shine through. Elvar Fridriksson kept Iceland in the fight with 17 points, while Hlinason turned in a milestone performance – his first-ever EuroBasket double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Fridriksson promised that the team would not stray from its style: “We will always stay true to who we are and to our identity, and we will keep playing the same game we want to play. When the shots follow, it will be better for us. It was one of those games where the emotions were a little bit too high. We will just recharge now and focus on Belgium.”
For Israel, the takeaway is straightforward: the Sorkin-Avdija partnership can carry them into darkhorse territory in Group D. With Poland up next, they’ll have a chance to prove whether this opening victory was the foundation of a deeper run.
For Iceland, the wait for a EuroBasket breakthrough win continues, but with Fridriksson’s grit and Hlinason’s dominance inside, they still carry the tools to cause trouble ahead.
