The basketball team’s victory in France is a small exclamation mark. But it is already clear that the hurdles at the Olympics will be even higher than at the World Cup triumph in Manila.
On the charter flight from Montpellier to their German homeland, Dennis Schröder and his colleagues were able to sit back and relax for a while. After a shock at the start in the form of a heavy 24-point defeat against France, the basketball world champions quickly recovered and proved their medal-winning ability just three weeks before the start of the Olympics.
Wembanyama not there
“We learned a lot from the game in Cologne. You learn more from losing than from winning. The win is good for morale and for the mood in the team,” said national coach Gordon Herbert about the 70:65 defeat in the return match, which was played without the super talent Victor Wembanyama, who was absent due to illness. In front of their home crowd, Herbert’s team had no chance against France with Wembanyama, losing 66:90.
53 hours after the severe setback, a short trip to France showed that the construction sites before the next big summer are gradually becoming fewer.
Franz and Moritz Wagner have signed their contracts with the Orlando Magic and have already played in Montpellier. Veteran Daniel Theis, who is said to have agreed to a one-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, is about to take this step, so the core of the world champions should be together at the latest this Saturday (7.30 p.m.) against the Netherlands in Hamburg.
No celebrations whatsoever
“Let’s go, now we can work,” wrote captain Schröder on Instagram about the news from his friend Theis, who had missed both France tests. Theis and the injured Johannes Thiemann should then reinforce a team that held up very well against Olympic host France and earned its first victory in the preparation.
However, there were no celebrations and the team did not return to the hotel until well after midnight after the late start of the game.
France with home advantage and the 2.23-meter giant Wembanyama, the USA with a superstar team around LeBron James and Stephen Curry: It is already becoming clear that the Olympic test will be even tougher than the World Cup summer, which ended with the completely unexpected triumph in Manila.
“We are very, very motivated in the training sessions. August 10 is everyone’s goal,” said Schröder in the podcast “Lauschangriff”. On that day, the Olympic final will take place in the Accor Arena in Paris.
Aiming for silver would be “a weakness”
Standing in awe of James and Curry and immediately declaring silver as the goal? That is not an option for the 30-year-old playmaker. “These are the twelve best players in the world. This is the biggest tournament in the world. Of course we would make history with every medal. But everyone should aim for gold, otherwise you show weakness,” said Schröder.
Ideally, they will be able to repeat the coup in Manila, when Schröder and Co. narrowly defeated a much younger US team in the semifinals.
Before the direct duel as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics takes place in London on July 22nd, the US stars are flexing their muscles for the first time in the camp in Las Vegas.
On Wednesday evening (local time) they will face the strong Canadians. Although several top players are joining the team, including James, Curry, NBA champion Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant, a 22-year-old winger sees himself as the figurehead of this team: Anthony Edwards.
“I’m still number one. You all may look at this a little differently, but I don’t,” said Edwards. “They have to fit in so they can play around me. That’s how I feel,” the Minnesota Timberwolves star announced with great confidence. Edwards was already part of the US team at the 2023 World Cup that missed out on a medal in Asia.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
