The national coach fully trusted her against Spain Starting FiveLeonie Fiebich even played through. However, the players do not allow the high burden to be an excuse for the defeat.
The German players stood drained and finished and finished after the second game against Spain in the Mixed zone. No wonder the Vice European Champions demanded everything from the DBB women. Playful, physical, in the end there was a clear 60:79 defeat. “I think we kept well in the first half. There were really good things there“, said Frieda Bühner after the game. “But in the second half we left a bit, which in the end cost us the victory.”
No break for Leonie Fiebich
Young star Frieda Bühner has now played on the Starting Five – together with Emily Bessoir, Alexis Peterson as well as Luisa Geiselsöder and Leonie Fiebich. But while in the first group game against Sweden, eleven players in the German squad were already on the pitch in the second quarter, national coach Lisa Thomaidis almost completely waived rotation. And so the five all played over 30 minutes, Fiebich was not even a break.
For Fiebich, who already complained about cramps after the first group game, this is not an excuse. “Yes, playing through 40 minutes is a lot. But no reason to give no hundred percent on Sunday against Great Britain”according to the 25-year-old in an interview after the game. Luisa Geiselsöder, the best scorer of the Germans again, saw it similarly. “Fatigue is a factor when we all play over 30 minutes. But we know how we have to deal with it. There were just too many mistakes, but they were not tired.”
Placed on the best players
The fact that the load against Spain was spread over so few shoulders was certainly also due to a lack of alternatives on the bench. With Marie Gülich, who watched from the stands, Satou and Nyara Sabally had to cope with violent failures in the run -up to the European Championship. The national coach therefore rely on her best players. “We started with the players with whom we had the best chance of winning”so Thomaidis. “It was clear beforehand that the bank would hardly be used.”
In fact, it looked different at the European Championship start. Except for Jessika Schiffer, all German players came at their operating times. Against Spain, these were only Alexandra Wilke, Romy Bär and Jennifer Crowder. The latter jumped in for playmakers Alexis Peterson, who had to be treated briefly after a collision with a Spanish opponent. But none of them scored. However, Thomaidis does not rule out further missions. “It always depends on the opponent. We trusted them against Sweden and there are even more suitable games where they will get their opportunity again”says the Canadian.
Find the middle ground against Great Britain
The fans will only see whether this will be the case against Great Britain again on the last group game day. What is certain, however, is that a victory has to be used, the German team wants to take the trip to Piraeus, where the main round is held. They are still second in their group, but Sweden lurks. Great Britain has lost every game of Eurobasket in Hamburg. In particular, the rebounds would have to be better, said Geiselsöder. That didn’t work so well against Spain.
Against the British, you adjust to a physical game. “And then we just have to stay together, use our strengths and minimize the errors as far as possible”Geiselsöder continues. Leonie Fiebich also admitted that the German game is very shaped by ups and downs after the Spain defeat. “This is always a bit the topic with us. We go in extremes. Sometimes we are really good, sometimes we are bad. We somehow have to find a middle ground.”
Ice bathroom and massages for relaxation
Even if the fatigue in the game against the Spaniards is not said to have played the decisive role, according to Geiselsöder, the effort of the past few days should still be significantly noticeable. “Of course you notice in the evening that the legs are difficult”says Frieda Bühner. “But that’s the way it is at such a tournament. I don’t worry about that.” In order to go back to the next matchday with one hundred percent, ice pool, massages and so -called Recovery boots queue.
The plus less mistakes and the support of the home audience should secure the quarter-finals to the German team. “So far the spectators have been great. We love it and will again consume the energy that fans bring with them”enthuses Lisa Thomaidis. As in the past few days, the hall will certainly be sold out again.