Now it’s getting serious: Germany’s basketball players are heading for the European Championship. And are really challenged in the first week. After seven victories, national coach Herbert can make a catch at the World Cup.
National coach Gordon Herbert was not overly complacent after his basketball players’ gala against Slovenia.
“We will enjoy it for a moment and then continue to work,” said the 63-year-old after the clear 90:71 victory over the European champion with NBA superstar Luka Doncic. There would have been a lot to celebrate in the Audi Dome in Munich: a strong team performance, the almost certainty of qualifying for the 2023 World Cup, the NBA duo Dennis Schröder & Franz Wagner or Johannes Voigtmann as guarantors under the basket. But then the proud basketball players didn’t feel like it.
After all, something that is even more important than a ticket for Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines next summer begins on September 1st (8:30 p.m. / Magentasport): the home European Championship. In Cologne, the Olympic silver medalist and one of the favorites, France, with star players Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert, will be waiting right at the start.
“We want to get as far as possible”
“Everything is possible. We want to go as far as possible. Playing at home is a great honor, so of course we want to do as well as possible,” said Andreas Obst after the win over the Slovenians. “It’s going to be really cool,” said NBA youngster Wagner, full of anticipation.
The preliminary group has it all. France at the start, then France-conqueror Bosnia and Lithuania before Slovenia and Doncic wait again. “The European Championship is in a completely different league. We have to wash it down and be ready for the European Championship,” announced Captain Schröder. The currently unattached NBA pro hinted in the second half of the Slovenia game how he could help the team with his dynamism, vision and threat from distance. The last injured ankle doesn’t seem to matter anymore.
Squad planning not finished yet
While head coach Herbert can be satisfied with the sporting performance, one thing he failed to do in the preparations was to reduce his squad to twelve men early on, which was actually planned for mid-August. The coach still has 15 players to choose from, the final decision on the final squad will probably not be made until Wednesday. It should be clarified on Tuesday whether NBA player Daniel Theis is available despite his knee problems – or whether another pillar on the way to the desired medal will break down shortly before the European Championships.
Standings in the World Cup Qualifiers Player profile Dennis Schröder Player profile Franz Wagner Basketball World Cup 2023 European Championship groups 2022 Player profile Luka Doncic
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
