Basketball European Championship: “must be better” – Olympics as a warning for basketball players

Two victories until the European Championship crown. After the basketball thriller against Slovenia with superstar Luka Doncic, the German basketball players are close to the successful end of their title mission. Two years after the sensational World Cup triumph from Manila, the next coup is within reach. But there is no sign of euphoria with Franz Wagner and Co.

Instead, the world champions are self -critical this Friday (4 p.m./RTL and Magenta Sport) before the semi -finals against outsiders Finland. “We haven’t done our best game twice now. I think it’s time again,” said Wagner after the wild catch -up at 99:91 in the hectic and cramped quarter -finals against Slovenia. Germany had already had a hard time in the round of 16 against Portugal.

After the glamorous preliminary round in the Finnish Tampere with five clear victories in five games, the German game in the KO round has not yet been developed as desired. “We have to be better if we want to achieve our goals,” said Maodo Lo.

The development is strikingly reminiscent of the disappointing Olympic Games last year. In France, too, the German team was rushed through the preliminary round to lose the decisive games in the KO round. At the Olympics, too, the team was celebrated against the host after a gala and then failed in the second meeting with the French.

This time, EM-Co host Finland was exhausted with 30 points difference in the group phase, now the team around NBA professional Lauri Markkanen and the Finnish young star Miikka Muurinen is waiting in the fight for the final.

So that Finland does not become the second France, the senses in the German camp are sharpened. “We are not allowed to underestimate the Finns,” said Schröder, which is incorrectly acting against Slovenia. “I still remember the games against the French. We took it a bit on our shoulder and switched off – this time shouldn’t happen to us.”

The preparation for the Suomi team began in the night after the Slovenia game. “The victory from the preliminary round no longer counts. Finland will have the first game in the head, they will want to reciprocate,” said Center Daniel Theis. “It is a big game for both teams. We still have two games up to our big goal,” said Theis with a view to the desired EM title.

Compensation as a trump card

It is characterized by this German team that it deals with the situation self -critically and believes in its own strengths until the end. And above all, these lie in the balance of the squad. “When I have a bad day, there is another one,” Schröder praised his teammates.

Together it should work with the first European Championship title for 32 years. This would also have the Olympic disappointment forgotten. “We have already lost enough games in important moments that we should have won. I think the sting is still deep,” said Wagner.