That’s it, the first round of EuroBasket 2022 is officially behind us and that means that all the posters for the round of 16 are now known. Greece, one of the heavyweights of the Euro and still undefeated, will notably cross paths with the Czech Republic this Sunday at 8:45 p.m. A formality? Probably, unless Giannis’ ankle…
The Czechs absolutely needed a success once morest Israel to clinch their ticket to the knockout stages. The Greeks had already validated their qualification, and the first place in the group was even secured before their last match once morest weak Estonia. In other words, when it comes to the stakes, we were on one side do or die game and on the other on a departmental match on Sunday morning. But in the end, the Czechs – carried by a Tomas Satoransky back in shape (14 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists) – like the Greeks did the job to offer themselves a round of 16 this Sunday, round of 16 which s This announcement is very unbalanced on paper but might be a little less so on the pitch if ever Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ankle were to act up.
Because if the Greek Freak has once once more wandered by planting 25 points in 19 minutes at 9/10 shooting this Thursday, the right ankle has unfortunately turned and that necessarily casts a little doubt on the eighth finals to come. Knowing the guy, it’s hard to imagine Giannis letting himself be beaten down by this sore and even less missing this important deadline towards a potential title of European champion, but at the same time we wonder why the Freak played 19 minutes in a match once morest Estonia. Certainly the Freak had already missed the meeting once morest Great Britain, certainly it is easy to say following the fact, but it is still the kind of scenario that absolutely had to be avoided. Good, Greece coach Dimitris Itoudis still wanted to be reassuring this Thursday evening and it is quite possible that this episode will be nothing more than a bad memory in a few days, when Greece will have martyred the band to Tomas Satoransky before a probable hyper exciting meeting once morest Germany in the quarterfinals final. In any case, that is what we hope.
Giannis going for precautionary exams on his twisted ankle. First indications: nothing serious
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 8, 2022
We cross our fingers to see a Giannis at 100% of his means or not far this Sunday once morest the Czechs, because the Freak is still one of the big reasons which make this EuroBasket 2022 a competition simply unmissable. Otherwise, it will be an opportunity for Sato and his friends to create an authentic achievement.
