Basketball European Championship: Germany tortures itself to the quarter-finals

Captain Dennis Schröder drummed the German basketball players on the floor and addressed a tight announcement to the team. The only at the end of a clear 85:58 (31:32) against outsider Portugal had caused a lot of stress at the world champion in Riga over three quarters. “I wish we had come out with a little more aggressiveness. That showed that we have a very deep team. Everyone who touched the court contributed to victory,” said Schröder after the game.

Coach Alan Ibrahimagic also saw a complicated game: “It was not easy. Portugal made life very difficult. On the return of national coach Alex Mumbru, Ibrahimagic and his boss shared the tasks on the sidelines.

In the end, Germany won clearly and reached the European Championship quarter-finals, but showed its weakest tournament performance. Mumbru stood on the sidelines for the first time during the European Championship after he had completely missed the preliminary round due to a abdominal disease.

In the quarter-finals on Wednesday, Germany will deal with NBA superstar Luka Doncic either with Italy or Slovenia. If it is then to work with the semi-finals, a significant increase in performance and a return to the brilliant form from the preliminary round in tampers is necessary. Against Portugal, Schröder and Franz Wagner with 16 points each were the best German throwers. “I hope that we will start better in the quarterfinals,” said Ibrahimagic.

Mumbru suffered an “acute abdomen” on Monday last week and was taken to the hospital in Tampere. This is an emergency situation that requires immediate medical treatment. It mostly manifests itself in violent abdominal pain. During the group phase, assistance coach Alan Ibrahimagic had taken responsibility and led the team to five confident victories in five games.

Since moving to Riga, Mumbru had taken over the scepter again and had already managed training on Friday. The Spaniard was back on the line for the first time during the European Championship against the Portuguese, which was first in the round of 16 in the round of 16.

Mumbru had lost a lot of weight in the past few days, but otherwise looked relaxed and also painted the first move on his tactics panel before the start of the game. During the game, the 46-year-old sat more than usual, but was always on the sidelines to give instructions. Ibrahimagic also moved on the line every now and then-the coaching duo shared the coaching tasks.

“That should give us a bit of energy again that it is back and healthy. He will be very motivated. We will continue to play as before,” said Andreas Obst before the game at Magenta Sport to return to the national coach.

But initially there was not much to see from the top form of Tampere when Germany dominated the opponents at will. The world champion began to be careless and unfocused and was quickly 2: 7 behind. The German team had shot the game until the end of the first quarter (17:12) – there was not much to be felt from the shine of the preliminary round.

For a long time, Germany did not find a rhythm in the new environment. Only one of 18 three -point throws found their way into the basket in the first half – that’s why the world champion was for the first time during the tournament for the break in the back (31:32).

“We have not transformed a lot of good throws, then you get nervous and a little tense. The importance of the game is in the background. We only need a little more looseness,” said Ibrahimagic at the break.

But even after the change of sides, not much went together with the tournament favorite, the German game continued to seem cramped. Only towards the end of the third quarter Maodo Lo finally hit the second German threesome, but before the last section, Germany was only one point in the lead (52:51). In the last ten minutes, too, it has remained a tough affair, so the significantly higher German quality prevails in the end.