Spain wants to complete the success: the quest for the final against the host Germany, the best attack of the Eurobasket

Without teams led by European NBA superstars Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antentokounmpo, Spain, Germany, Poland and France will battle for gold in one of the most surprising editions of the Eurobasket. After the discussion in the first semi-final between Poland and France (17:15), the Spanish team will call. in enemy territory A seat for the final on Sunday is something unthinkable 15 days ago when the championship starts.

The team coached by Sergio Scariolo, despite being immersed in a transition period, competitive gene This allowed him to be just two wins away from undermining, after all, even without the differential players. If they beat the dangerous and physical German team that will fight the public in their favour, Spain will play the seventh European final in 25 years, which will allow them to secure Europe. seventh consecutive metal At the continental championship organized by FIBA.

But before considering medals, the Spanish team’s granite block will test its maturity against a hard bone. Germany was perhaps the best team in Eurobasket in terms of matches and statistics. He just doesn’t have Best offense with 93.6 points per gameit is also the team that scores the most threes per game (12.9%, with a success rate of 40%).

They The game is fun, fast, colorful and physical. It is difficult to defend. Dennis Schroeder, the offensive leader of the team coached by Gordi Herbert, is playing with 20.6 points and 7.7 assists per game. Franz Wagner is another mainstay of the Teutonic team. The Orlando Magic’s full-power forward rebounds are reliable from perimeter points, positions, and the free throw line. Add to this the contribution of physical and reliable interiors such as Daniel Theis and Johannes Voigtmann.

But above the names, the German team is a crazy team play and reliable back on offense. It was precisely this spirit that allowed NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to cancel his Greece (107-96) in the quarterfinals. In the group stage, they finished second in the so-called ‘group of death’, ahead of France and Lithuania, and second after Serbia, who were eliminated by Italy in the round of 16.

Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo’s board is facing another tough challenge after neutralizing Finn Lauri Markkanen’s talent in the quarterfinals and canceling Jonas Valanciunas’ physical hierarchy against Lithuania in the second round (102-94). If you want to get closer to the final, Spain will have to show themselves with 78.8 points per game. its the best defensive version. The world champion passed the first two eliminations when he was able to build a wall behind him.

escort Rudy Fernandezpivot Willy Hernangomezoffensive reference with 17.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, they will be the key In the match against the Germans. All this without forgetting Lorenzo Brown, who gave oxygen to the Spanish team with his assists (7.1) and points from the environment (13.4).

But if Spain has been successful in anything, it has been in the spirit of solidarity of the whole group. Twelve players on the team, seven of whom debuted in the FIBA ​​tournament, the role they accept without question. From Alberto Díaz, who was decisive in defense, to the more anarchic game of Darío Brizuela, who shined in the offense against Finland through the internal contributions of Juancho Hernangómez and Usman Garuba, two vital players to stop German power in the paint.

The match between the two teams will be like this Reorganization of the 2005 Eurobasket semi-finals. On this occasion, the German team printed their final ticket (74-73) with an imperial Dirk Nowitzki (27 points).

other semi-finals

If they win, Spain will face the winner of the first semi-final between Poland and France. The Central European team nevertheless beat current European champion Luka Doncic’s Slovenia (87-90) in the quarterfinals with Mateusz Ponitka’s outstanding performance (26 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists). The striker reached a historic milestone as the third player to hit a triple-double at a European Championship, after Croatia’s Toni Kukoc and Romania’s Andrei Manadache.

Led by central Rudy Gobert (14.7 points and 10.9 rebounds), France should not rely on a team that plays very physical games on defense. The Olympic runner-up needed two extra time against Turkey (86-87) and Italy (93-85) to be among the top four teams in Europe.