After the Blues at 5:15 p.m., it will be the turn of the Germans and the Spaniards to meet on the floor of the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. A classic clash between two great nations of European basketball but above all a duel for a place in the final of EuroBasket 2022. Start of hostilities from 8:30 p.m.
Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol may no longer be there to engage in duels at the top, but this Germany-Spain is nonetheless a gala poster in 2022. At home and carried by a boiling public, the Mannschaft can take to dreaming of a final at home. The last time it happened, in 1993, she left with the gold medal around her neck. Bis Repetita almost 30 years later? The nice little wink: Germany had taken out Spain and Greece in the quarter and half knockout matches (but in reverse order compared to 2022). Dennis Schröder and his band will therefore try to follow in the footsteps of their elders and they have the talent to go all the way. Fabulous in the quarter against Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family, they were able to rely on a diabolical address from the parking lot and an XXL contribution from the main executives (Wagner, Theis and therefore Schröder). Behind these guards, the Teutons can also benefit from the contribution of several role players capable of playing the X factors such as Obst, Maodo Lo, Thiemann or even Voigtmann. Despite a small scare against Montenegro in the eighth, Germany is currently showing great control and of the last four competitors, it is perhaps the one that gives the impression of better managing its business. To the point of deserving the first step of the podium?
“The medal was the goal before starting. We will take advantage of this moment and prepare for Spain on Friday, but we want the gold medal. – Daniel Theis – via FIBA
Opposite, Spain is STILL there. They were said to be in transition, lost with the departure or absence of the historical leaders (the Gasol brothers, Sergio Rodriguez and Llull, Ricky Rubio), but La Roja nevertheless managed to make their way to the semi-final of the euro. It went to the finish against Lithuania, it sweated hard during a big half-time against Finland but our Iberian neighbors still arrive at their destination. Take a doublet of brother inside who manages his business, that we have known for some time, a naturalized point guard who has just arrived but who gives the impression of playing in FIBA for 10 years, add some nice surprises from the bench and a courageous captain who will continue to plant at 3-pointers until he turns 75 (you all know who we are talking about) and that’s how Sergio Scariolo is two games away from putting Spain back on the roof of the Europe. A fourth EuroBasket in less than 13 years? Given the squad and the absentees, it would probably have been said to be impossible at the start of the tournament, but La Roja once again shows us that impossible is not a Spaniard.
“It’s already a great achievement to be in the semi-finals of this tournament, where even great teams have failed. But it’s in our nature to fight to win every time. – Sergio Scariolo – via FIBA
ROSTERS
Germany : Niels Giffey, Justus Hollatz, Maodo Lo, Andreas Obst, Dennis Schroder, Christian Sengfelder, Daniel Theis, Johannes Thiemann, Johannes Voigtmann, Franz Wagner, Nick Weiler-Babb, Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann
Spain : Lorenzo Brown, Jaime Pradilla, Jaime Fernandez, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Willy Hernangomez, Juancho Hernangomez, Rudy Fernandez, Usman Garuba, Joel Parra, Sebastian Saiz, Alberto Diaz, Dario Brizuela
THE JOURNEY OF THE TWO TEAMS
- Germany – France : 76-63
- Germany – Bosnia: 92-82
- Germany – Lithuania: 109-107
- Germany – Slovenia : 80-88
- Germany – Hungary: 106-71
- Germany – Montenegro: 85-79
- Germany – Greece: 107-96
- Spain – Bulgaria: 114-87
- Spain – Georgia: 90-64
- Spain – Belgium : 73-83
- Spain – Montenegro : 82-65
- Spain – Turkey: 72-69
- Spain – Lithuania: 102-94
- Spain – Finland: 100-90
Germany and Spain battle it out for a ticket to the EuroBasket final and it’s on to watch from 8:30 p.m. So, rather the band of Dennis Schröder or that of Rudy Fernandez?