European Championship: DBB coach Herbert removes Captain Benzing from the EM squad

European Championship: DBB coach Herbert removes Captain Benzing from the EM squad

Captain Robin Benzing really wanted to be at the European Championships in Cologne and Berlin. But nothing will come of it. If the preparations continue in Hamburg, the veteran will no longer be there.

Robin Benzing is always there. That has been the case for German basketball players for 13 years. In 2009 Benzing played his first European championship in Poland in a Germany jersey.

This year’s European Championship from September 1st to 18th with a preliminary round in Cologne and the final round in Berlin should be the culmination of his national team career. But it won’t come to that.

National coach Gordon Herbert dropped the 33-year-old captain from the squad for the European Championship on Saturday, as the association announced about three weeks before the opening game against France in Cologne (September 1).

In addition, Kenneth Ogbe (EWE Baskets Oldenburg) and Leon Kratzer (Telekom Baskets Bonn) will no longer be there when the team meets again in Hamburg on Tuesday after three days off. Herbert will continue the preparation with 14 players.

Weiler-Babb’s debut undated

Nick Weiler-Babb, who has only just been naturalized, is to join the team in Hamburg. The Bayern Munich professional is currently still in his home country of the USA because of family matters. Whether he will make his debut in the Germany jersey at the Supercup on Friday and Saturday depends on when he actually arrives in Hamburg.

Benzing, who was last with Fortitudo Bologna in Italy, had played for the national team every summer since 2009. The game in Almere on Friday evening was his 167th in the national jersey. It could have been his last. At 68:66 in the Netherlands, the veteran could no longer advertise on his own behalf. In 12:51 minutes, Benzing missed his only two throws from the field and was also unlucky in one or the other action.

Nevertheless, the renunciation of gasoline comes as a bit of a surprise. After all, the 2.08 meter Schlacks always played an important role as a mood maker, especially away from the parquet. In addition, he was always available when many other players were not there because of their commitments in the NBA or the Euroleague or for other reasons.

“It’s always difficult for the boys because everyone deserves to be there,” said NBA professional Dennis Schröder. “I hope that the boys will still support us at the European Championship, they will remain part of the team.”

14 instead of 12 professionals are coming to Hamburg

Herbert actually wanted to reduce his squad to twelve players after the two tests in Belgium and the Netherlands. “It’s about forming a team and players finding their roles,” Herbert justified his plan. But now he is continuing the preparations on Tuesday in Hamburg with 14 professionals.

On the one hand, David Krämer is slightly injured, on the other hand, it is still unclear when Weiler-Babb will join the team. “Sometimes you have to adapt to developments,” said Herbert, explaining his change of plan, which captain Benzing no longer benefited from.

Kader Germany Overview of test matches of the EM participants International match statistics Benzing DBB-Mitteilung

Source: Stern

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