NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - You don't have to be a so-called women's basketball specialist to predict that Spain should come out on top in Group D at EuroBasket Women 2015.

While that kind of predictability is not exactly a guarantee - anything other than Spain finishing in pole position would certainly be a shock.

The title holders and recent FIBA World Championship for Women runners-up have one of the best coaches in the women's game in Lucas Mondelo. They have great momentum and belief, a winning culture, brilliant veterans, exciting young players and an array of rock solid 'glue' players to ensure competition for places is high.

It would seem like EuroBasket Women 2013 MVP Sancho Lyttle might continue in the naturalised spot next year and maybe until Rio 2016 if that is forthcoming.

Spain still have an ace up their sleeve in Fenerbahce powerhouse Astou Ndour who continues to wait for the telephone to ring. Meanwhile, Alba Torrens remains one of the finest and most entertaining players in Europe (if not in the world).

All playing ahead of the magical hand of wily veteran Laia Palau at the point guard position, Spain can and indeed should, excel once again.

Outside of Spain, it could feasibly be Sweden who make the biggest impact ahead of Lithuania, Slovak Republic or co-hosts Hungary - although there is also a credible notion which suggests that you are splitting hairs in even trying to separate the quartet. Or at least if they all play to their full potential.

However, Sweden will arrive having felt like they need to wrap up unfinished business. Returning to the Final Round in 2013 for the first time since the 1980s, they were one of the stories of EuroBasket Women in France.

They could and should have gone to the FIBA World Championship for Women, while they could have inflicted misery on France in a Quarter-Final which was easily one of the top five women's games I have ever seen for intensity and entertainment. It was awesome and if you are at a loose end during the holidays, get onto youtube, put your feet up and enjoy it.

But, to their agony, Sweden missed out in both cases and this time, having negotiated a difficult qualifying group containing Russia and Netherlands, they can really put their foot forward in this group. It couldn't have been better for them - at least on paper.

Lars Johansson is a very capable coach and in the Eldebrink twins (Frida and Elin) he still has two premier guards to utilise. The use of the naturalised Ashley Key to bolster the ammunition on the wings proved a masterstroke and Louice Halvarsson is a good body to have in the paint.

Also with the dynamic Farhiya Abdi lighting it up with Wisla Can-Pack in EuroLeague Women and the Polish League and perhaps open this time to a major tournament rather than a WNBA return, there are loads of great options.

Lithuania are tough. They always seem to lose and gain players in equal and regular measure and yet just keep reinventing themselves. They strolled through qualification and in Ginatre Petronyte, have a giant of a player who is really enjoying her time on court again in EuroLeague Women - actually playing alongside Abdi in Krakow.

Having lost the all-action veteran Sandra Linkevisciene to injury on the eve of qualification after her return from maternity, Lithuania showed their depth as Kamile Nacickaite of Istanbul Universitesi and Vita Kuktiene (amongst others) helped them deal with the loss.

If Sweden getting Key was indeed a masterstroke, then Slovak Republic managing to naturalise UMMC Ekaterinburg guard Kristi Toliver was perhaps even better. She adds a huge dose of class to the playmaking situation and assuming she plays again next year, her adopted nation could be a tricky opponent.

Under new head coach in the shape of the highly-rated Maros Kovacik, Slovak Republic have plenty of star performers who the play-caller knows well, as most play for him at Good Angels Kosice.

They have the legendary Zuzana Zirkova who surely must have one last major tournament in a national team vest having recently returned to action after many years away, while Zsofia Hruscakova is a sensational rising star of the European game. Still only 19 years old, she is one of the top 10 European teenagers - having demonstrated this by actually leading the team in scoring and rebounding during the qualifiers.

There could be further fascinating links to Kosice when it comes to Hungary. Allie Quigley moved from Good Angels to Wisla Can-Pack a few months ago and has been the naturalised choice for Hungary, while Tijana Krivacevic, a really efficient and capable frontcourt player who is currently with the Good Angels and Katalin Honti is starting for Schio in EuroLeague Women!

What could be really fun is if Hungary are tempted to call one or two young players to the party to take the 11th and 12th spots on their roster - or will FIBA U17 World Championship for Women standouts Virag Kiss and Debora Dubei be just a little short on experience to get the nod? I hope not! For I really do love the game of this exciting duo.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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