One wrong step, first defeat World, placed Spain at the point of no return, where it is Canada, His opponent on Sunday: Whoever wins will survive the tournament and reach the quarterfinals (15:30 La 1). The loser will have to go home.

selection Scariolo, The reigning world champion would not have thought of such a thing 48 hours ago. He showed signs of solvency in the preparation phase on defense and in a key game against. Brazil. With the contribution of young people, some green shoots appeared. Núñez, Garuba, and Deception. Thus, the way seemed to be opened to reach the final stage of the road. Manila, Philippines). But the image of the election on D-Day lies before us Latvia He was unrecognizable: he was soft, punchless, and had an alarming lack of concentration, which had brought him to the brink of the abyss. “You have to be honest. We weren’t the best team to be seen in this championship or the aggressive team,” he admitted. red after defeat.

“Someone Canada very important match. The important thing is to play as our story and tradition requires. There are few predictions in our favor, but no impossible match or an invincible opponent. The important thing is to play with the identity of this team as we know it,” he said in the preview. ScarioloTrying to reduce the drama of a life-or-death match. “The story of this team doesn’t end tomorrow, don’t win or lose. We have a long way to go, we have a history to stay true to values. If they beat us because they’re better or more athletic, we’ll congratulate them and move on.”

Doubts about its existence Sergio Lull adds more uncertainty to the ordeal he will have to pass before the election Canada, He is one of the biggest contenders for the podium, dominating his opponents until he stumbles across Brazil. “Llull has a bruise on his left calf. But this is not good. There will be no risk that it may exist at home. But Sergi has a big heart and he’s trying to go as far as he can,” said the coach.

Gathering at noon to analyze the mistakes made against Latvia, the team said that the players should completely empty themselves against an opponent like Canada, which definitely surpasses the Spanish team in quality and physicality and has 2.5-magnitude stars. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) or J.R. Barrett (New York Knicks), very hard to stop on an individual level. He also visited the previous federation president Jorge Garbajosa, Currently the chairman of FIBA ​​Europe and participating in the team’s training, Dr.

“Enjoy on the track”

“We have to win. We are convinced. We trust ourselves, our concentration, our desires, we analyze the center of the choice, Willy Hernangomez the wall they will have to climb in front of Canada. “It’s a game where we will have the opportunity. We know them well. We played against their players in America. Anything can happen in such an important game, and we set out with the dream of giving everything and more,” said the new Barça player.

“There’s no magic card in the game they’re going to do to you,” his brother said. juancho But there is only one way to know that they are better, more physical: playing as a team, giving the ball to us, defending, being a wall. Those who don’t believe don’t come to the game.”

All or nothing Canada It’s also a scenario familiar to the national team, where they have to risk elimination in a single match, like at the Rio Games in 2016 or the European Championships in 2015. This is a reference the team’s most experienced players have. He wanted to transfer young people, but this has little to do with Spain’s ‘golden youth’. Pau Gasol or Navarro They had the capacity to make a difference in transcendent moments.

“The veterans are aware that this is not the first time this has happened and that in bad times the chip has changed to face a vital game like tomorrow”, reflected this. Rudy Fernandez, one of the heirs of that unique generation, just like them Claver and Llull. “I see a lot of pressure on the faces of some of my teammates and what we need to do is have fun on the track. What got us here is that this team can enjoy it both outside and inside.”