North Macedonia vs Poland: Analysis and Prediction – North Macedonia will host Poland on home court in the EuroBasket Qualifier Round 6.
North Macedonia vs Poland Odds
North Macedonia Team News
With a 65-84 away loss to Estonia, North Macedonia has officially lost its chances of qualifying for the EuroBasket final tournament. After five rounds, they have managed only one victory in their group, leaving them without a path to advance.
Despite having the support of TJ Shorts in their last game, North Macedonia fell apart in the second half against Estonia, managing to hit just one three-pointer out of 14 attempts. That was the decisive blow to their qualification hopes. Their overall performance in the qualifiers was disappointing, particularly on the defensive end, where they frequently lost their assignments. Opponents, especially Lithuania and Estonia, capitalized on these weaknesses. North Macedonia struggled to play aggressive defense and also faced significant rebounding issues. Against Estonia, they were outrebounded by 17, while against Lithuania, the margin was even worse at 23. With such poor control of the paint, good results were hard to come by. Following their elimination, it remains uncertain whether TJ Shorts will play in their final game or if the offensive responsibility will fall entirely on Nenad Dimitrijevic. The team lacks depth and struggles to maintain a high tempo long enough to compete effectively with stronger opponents.
To finish the qualifiers on a positive note, North Macedonia will need to improve its defensive play and rebounding. Additionally, their three-point shooting has been a major issue, with percentages below 30% in recent games. A better shooting performance will be crucial if they hope to secure a win in their final matchup.
Poland Team News
Poland suffered a crushing 48-82 home defeat against Lithuania, highlighting their lack of progress throughout these qualifiers. With just one victory—an away win against Estonia—they currently hold a 1-4 record.
While it’s clear that Poland has been using these qualifiers to build chemistry for the upcoming EuroBasket, where they are one of the host nations, their performances have been far from encouraging. The team has displayed numerous weaknesses on both ends of the floor, and their offensive struggles were particularly evident in the loss to Lithuania, where they managed just 48 points. Poland has struggled with poor shooting efficiency, weak rebounding, and a general lack of intensity. These issues were further amplified by the absence of Mateusz Ponitka and Aleksander Balcerowski, two players who bring toughness and competitiveness to the squad. Their absence was evident, as no Polish player reached double figures in scoring against Lithuania, with Łukasz Kolenda leading the team with just nine points. Throughout the qualifiers, Michał Michalak has been one of the few bright spots, leading Poland to their lone win. However, he has not received consistent support from his teammates. If Poland wants to make an impact at EuroBasket, they will need significant improvements before the tournament begins.
In their next match, Poland must focus on better ball movement and a more efficient offense if they hope to secure a win. Unlike their opponent, they have several players capable of making an impact in the paint, and they should look to exploit that advantage to generate scoring opportunities and second-chance points.
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North Macedonia vs Poland H2H
In their four previous encounters, North Macedonia has won three times, including their most recent victory—a dominant 96-71 road win in these qualifiers.
Absences and Injuries
North Macedonia will be without Andrej Jakimovski for this window. For Poland, Mateusz Ponitka is dealing with an injury and is unlikely to take the risk of playing in this matchup.
North Macedonia vs Poland Prediction
North Macedonia will look to bid farewell to their home fans with a win. The team is in a much better offensive rhythm, and since the game has no significant impact on the standings, neither side is expected to play aggressive defense. As a result, we anticipate a fast-paced game with more possessions. In such a scenario, North Macedonia should have the advantage, as they possess more offensive options.
Tip-off Time: Monday, 24.02.2025, 18:30 CET
Prediction: North Macedonia -2.5
Odds: 1.87
Sportsbook: 22Bet
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
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