The German women’s basketball team suffered their first defeat at the Olympics. But their performance against the best team in the world is encouraging. One injury is causing concern.
The German basketball players gave the US stars a friendly high five and received a final round of applause in Lille. Even after clearly missing out on a surprise win against the Olympic champions, national coach Lisa Thomaidis’ team can travel to Paris full of confidence, where the finals will take place on Wednesday.
“We definitely take a lot with us. I think that this game does not really reflect who we are. I had fun and that is what it is all about. We are in the quarter-finals,” said Satou Sabally after the clear 68:87 (29:41) at the end of the preliminary round.
The Olympic debutant thus finished the group phase in second place behind the USA, who seem almost unbeatable on the way to gold. Who Germany will face in the fight for a place in the semi-finals after moving to the French capital will only be decided at the draw on late Sunday evening. “It doesn’t matter who comes. We just have to do our thing,” said Sabally, who was once again the best German thrower with 15 points.
Concerns about Leonie Fiebich
The most likely opponents are European runners-up Spain or Serbia. The German Basketball Association’s team had already beaten the Serbians at the qualifying tournament in Brazil in February.
Leonie Fiebich is a cause for concern. The key player sustained a hand injury in the third quarter and was unable to continue playing. The German team had to do without Nyara Sabally. The younger of the two Sabally sisters was not yet fully fit after her slight concussion in the opening match against Belgium and was therefore rested with a view to the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Strong German start
But even without the 22-year-old from the WNBA club New York Liberty, the German team initially showed no respect for the seemingly overwhelming opponent. Fiebich in particular had set herself some goals. Fiebich, who plays in the WNBA in New York alongside Nyara Sabally and the two Americans Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, scored eight points in the first quarter.
The 24-year-old played a major role in Germany taking a surprising 15:6 lead, forcing US coach Cheryl Reeve to take her first timeout. There was no sign of the foot injury that Fiebich had sustained against Japan. After the first quarter, Germany was sensationally leading 19:16.
USA increases
The USA had to put in their best performance of the tournament to date to get the cheeky German team under control. With much more aggressive defensive work and more focus, the US team, which last lost a game at the Olympics in 1992, turned the game around and were, as expected, twelve points ahead at halftime.
The Americans provoked numerous easy turnovers with their increased intensity. Five of these were due to Satou Sabally, who was a little unlucky after a strong start. After the break, Germany continued to hold out well and reduced the deficit to eight points (41:49). But after Fiebich’s injury, the game was decided.
Source: Stern
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