National team at EM: “Great made”: Temporary coach lets basketball players cheer

Franz Wagner carried a small cake with the golden numbers two and four through the interview zone. Then on his 24th birthday, the German basketball star paid tribute to the man who almost nobody knew two days ago: Alan Ibrahimagic, who, as an assistant, broke up for the sick national coach Alex Mumbru and led Germany to a sovereign 106: 76 (46:43) at the European Championship start against Montenegro.

“Alan did great. He gave us a lot of confidence,” said Wagner, who contributed 22 points on his day of honor and then shone happily. In addition to Wagner, playmaker Dennis Schröder (21) and Andreas Obst (18) also protruded in the Finnish tampere.

Ibrahamagic: No nervousness

“We are happy. I hope that I can take on my old role, but at the moment I can’t say it,” said Ibrahamagic, who suddenly came to the first member when head coach Mumbru was hospitalized on Monday due to an acute infection. Nervousness, bad sleep? Wasn’t there at Ibrahamagic. Everything was as always, assured the assistant, otherwise used as a youth coach.

Captain Schröder was also satisfied. “In the first half it was a bit arrival, but in the second half we brought our energy and earned in the end,” said the playmaker. The starting difficulties were quickly forgotten, as Schröder assured: “We played German basketball in the second half.”

The German team, which has played in atmospheric halls in Cologne, Munich and Madrid in the past few weeks, had to get used to the relatively bleak atmosphere in Tampere. When NBA-Jungstar Wagner stood on the Freiwurfinie, even individual Happy Birthday chants could be heard on the occasion of his birthday-it was so quiet in the ranks on which only 3,495 spectators had found space.

Mumbru is still in the hospital, but was involved in communication. “He communicates with him on the bench. But most of the work has already been done in advance,” said Ibrahimagic in advance. After the short shock moment, the team hopes for a quick return Mumbrus, preferably for the second group game against Sweden on Friday (12.30 p.m./RTL and Magenta Sport).

Miese threesome quota in halftime one

The formative figure of the first few minutes was Wagner, who moved to the basket with a lot of speed and assertiveness and contributed seven points to an early lead. When fruit at 11:11 was a four-point game, Deutsche Bank was fully there for the first time-but the world champion against Montenegro was initially unable to break away with NBA routine Nikola Vucevic (34 years).

Germany did not manage to implement the fast playing style desired by Mumbru. Instead, there were many difficult three -point throws, of which only four out of 18 found their destination until the break. “We don’t really hit the aggressively,” said co-captain Johannes Voigtmann at Magentasport.

The injured world champion Moritz Wagner, who works as a TV expert for Magenta Sport, still looked completely calm at half-time. “It’s a classic opening game. It is not so easy to build energy in a half -empty hall in the afternoon,” said Wagner. The German team could have used its energy well in front of the predominantly empty ranks.

Mumbru return expected

Germany was initially not on the road as confidently as co -favorite Lithuania, which Great Britain had previously defeated at the start of Group B with 94:70. Which was also due to the rebellious and physically strong opponent.

For the second half, Ibrahimagic called for an increase on the defensive. And that came – the more defensive rotations worked better. And the threes suddenly fell in series. Specialist in particular now ran hot. Only one injury from Isaac Bonga clouded the good performance after the change of sides.

Before the double pack against Sweden and Lithuania, there is a day -free day on Thursday. If Mumbru is released from the hospital, he could be back on the sidelines on Friday. The top four nations in the group of six reach the final round in Riga in Latvian.