By Josh Cohen
July 9, 2016
In one of the most thrilling FIBA games of the decade, Croatia outlasted Italy in overtime to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. It will be the fourth time the Croatian national basketball team will complete in the Olympics.
Bojan Bogdanovic posted 26 points and buried a critical 3-pointer with 1:14 left in OT to put Croatia up six. Krunoslav Simon racked up 21 points, Dario Saric recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds and Mario Hezonja dished out four assists.
Croatia won three straight after losing the pool play opener to Italy. It coasted past Tunisia, held off Greece in the semifinals and got redemption against the host nation in the final.
Croatia joined Serbia on Saturday as two of the final three teams to secure a spot in Rio. The winner of France vs. Canada (Sunday at 9 a.m. ET) will be the final country to advance. While Evan Fournier is not playing for France in this competition, he stated earlier in the week that he will join the team in Rio if they qualify.
At the 2008 games in Beijing, Croatia advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Spain. Only Roko-Leni Ukic is still on Croatia’s roster from that year. In 1992, Croatia reached the gold medal game. That team featured several of Croatia’s most beloved basketball stars, including Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc and Dino Radja.
Croatia will be part of Group B at the Olympics. That pool includes: Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Nigeria and Lithuania. Group A features: USA, Serbia, Venezuela, China, Australia and the winner of France vs. Canada. Men’s basketball at Olympics tips off on Aug. 6.