Pau Gasol: “Elimination from the World Cup is a very heavy blow for the USA”

Was it expected that the USA would be eliminated in the semi-finals?

Some might not expect it, but it didn’t surprise me. It’s true that the USA is a very difficult team to beat, no matter who is there, because they always have talent equal to or greater than yours. But in the end, we saw two teams, Serbia and Germany, who reached the final on their own merits, and all that remains is to congratulate them and enjoy the final, which I think will be great.

You know American basketball very well, how will they accept this tough defeat when the goal in Manila is to win back the championship?

It is clear that elimination from the World Cup was a very heavy blow for them. But this isn’t the first time. This already happened to them in 2002 and 2006. They then won in 2010 and 2014, and the same thing happened again in 2019. So it’s not something that’s been seen before, it’s something that’s been talked about. After all, this team, which has so much talent and so many top players, gives the same importance to the World Cup as it does to the Olympic Games, where it achieved results. We need to see what the impact is, but it is clear that they have no choice but to congratulate and learn that in sports, as in life, if you are not at your best, everyone can beat you.

What virtues would you highlight for the two finalists, Serbia and Germany, to get to where they are?

First of all, I believe in this belief and the image of unity as a team. I think this is something similar to what happened in the last World Cup, when Spain and Argentina were in the final: two teams that have played together for years, know each other well, compete, are enemies. They believe in them from the first minute and they win in the end.

Serbia returns to the final after nine years, and they do so with the coach who made them champions in Indianapolis in 2002.

Pesic’s story is one of the most beautiful stories of this championship. He was Serbia’s coach 23 years ago and is still here. He trained my brother (in Girona). I know him personally and he has the ability to lead a team. In a team without Jokic or other important players, they need to be given the value they have. But these are examples of the team being above the individual.

How do you evaluate Spain’s elimination from the World Cup?

It’s a shame, I think the team could have reached the quarter-finals or even the semi-finals. Latvia’s match was important. Latvia showed that they are a dangerous team by beating other teams with potential, and losing this game puts you in a life or death situation against Canada. It was a match that looked like it was won, but ultimately the Canadian team has very good players. Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alxander solved very well and eventually won the match.

Perhaps the results of the last World Cup and Eurobasket championships created a reality beyond expectations.

I don’t know. Of course, becoming world champion in 2019 and European champion in 2022 were important results that we perhaps did not expect. And it is a fact that it is difficult to maintain this level in such difficult competitions. But if you compete, like we did, you give yourself a chance to win. We had bad moments in Spain, as in the World Cup held in Spain in 2014. There are always moments when expectations are not met, but this is part of every team’s journey and development. And I like the team we have, I like the guys coming from behind, and I think we can be excited. Worry? So what must they be saying in France? You must move on, learn, self-criticize and come back stronger next year. Defeats also serve to better appreciate victories.