12 Giant Men take the stage for their 1067th match

The Turkish Men's National Basketball Team will face Iceland away tomorrow in the 2027 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Round 2 Group J. With this match, the crescent-and-star team will take the court for the 1067th time in its history.

Having played its first match in history against Greece on June 24, 1936, Turkey has played 1066 matches in the 90-year period that has followed. The national team has secured 555 victories and suffered 510 defeats in these matches.

The only draw in the A National Team's history occurred in a friendly match played against Macedonia in Istanbul on June 13, 1995. That match ended 78-78.

Turkey achieved its first victory in official matches at the European Championship held in Egypt in 1949. Starting the tournament with losses to Greece and France, the national team secured its first victory in official matches by defeating Syria in its third game.

The crescent-and-star team's largest margin of victory came on September 29, 1980, at the Islamic Countries Sports Games held in Izmir. Turkey defeated Libya 142-45, achieving a 97-point difference.

The national team experienced its largest margin of defeat against Croatia and France. Turkey was defeated 113-63 by Croatia in the European Championship on June 24, 1993, and 96-46 by France in a friendly match on July 3, 2024.

The Iceland match will be the 104th match for the A National Team under head coach Ergin Ataman. Turkey has recorded 58 wins and 45 losses in the 103 matches played during the Ataman era.

News Source: 12punto