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The competition to decide the premier basketball country in Europe tipped-off last week in Lithuania and pits Europe's strongest basketball teams against one another as they fight it out for the crown.

The 37th Eurobasket competition began last week and will see Spain try to successfully defend the title they won in Poland in 2009. This is just the second time the tournament is taking place in Lithuania and the competition, which is held every two years, started with 24 teams on August 31 and will conclude with the gold medal game on September 18 at the Zalgiris Arena. The Soviet Union are the most successful side in the competition's history with 14 wins but, since their last title in 1985, the competition has been a lot more open with seven countries winning the 14 subsequent titles.

While Spain are early favourites in the world of basketball betting to defend their title, they shouldn't expect everything to go their way. The high quality of the competition means that a handful of teams are all in with a chance of winning the coveted title.

Vital Statistics

Spain are looking to defend the title they won two years ago and be the first team since Yugoslavia in 1997 to win back to back Eurobasket titles.

Spain are favourites with Lithuania and Serbia following them.

Serbia are favourites to top their group with Spain, Russia and Greece the favourites to win theirs.

The top teams win automatic entry into next year's Olympic Games along with hosts Great Britain who also automatically qualify.

If NBA talent is anything to go by, it pays to remember that France and Spain have the most NBA players in their respective squads with five each. Turkey is next best with four.

Germany in 1993 are the last host nation to win it although, since then, Turkey and Spain both reached the final (which they lost) as the host country.

Pau Gasol is the last player to win the NBA and Eurobasket titles in the same year having done so in 2009. The world of Betting doubts if Dirk Nowitzki can also do this.

Georgia and Montenegro are appearing in their first Eurobasket competition.

Don't miss a shot of this year's competition, and be sure to do all of your Eurobasket betting right here at Titan Bet. Our live betting options are second to none and we'll have full coverage of most matches to ensure your in-play betting experience is as good as can be. Sign-in and start playing today!