Croatia scored a significant 93-88 home victory over world champions Germany in a FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifier on February 28, 2026. The win was a testament to Croatia's offensive firepower and resilience against one of the globe's top-ranked teams. In a high-level contest, Germany's depth and system kept them within striking distance throughout, even holding a brief lead in the third quarter. However, Croatia's star players took over in the clutch, hitting a series of difficult shots to maintain a narrow advantage. The pivotal moment came with under a minute to play, when a Croatian guard sank a deep, contested three-pointer to extend the lead to five points, forcing Germany into a desperate situation they could not overcome. The victory was a massive confidence booster for Croatia's national program.