The quarter -finals are done. But now the German team awaits the top favorites for the title: Belgium. Superstar Emma Meesseman in particular protrudes, but the DBB women cannot be intimidated.
As soon as you got out of the plane, the heat hit your face. Athens welcomed the players with 35 degrees and cloud -free sky. What is paradise on earth for one or the other tourist does not only have advantages for the German team. Especially when in the quarterfinals on Wednesday (June 25th; from 7.30 p.m. in the live ticker at Sportschau.de) against the best team in Europe, if not the world, goes: Belgium.
“The heat can really rob you of the energy”warns Lisa Thomaidis in conversation with the sports show. That is why the motto is called mainly in the team hotel. However, there is no output lock. “Of course we don’t want to lock the players in the hotel. But you should be careful when and how long you are outside.” And so in the evening after the strength training was completed, there was still a trip to the harbor.
Belgium wants the Title defense
While the arrival and regeneration were in the foreground in the Greek capital on the first day, it is now being filed how to beat the top favorites from Belgium. So far the “Belgian Cats“However, no nakedness, they all won their group games confidently. The big goal? Also 2025 become European champions. Because in 2023 Belgium won his first big title at the Eurobasket in Slovenia and Israel. Last year, they narrowly failed at the Olympic Games in Paris.
A little has happened since then. Rachid Mezianewho led the Belgian team from one success to the other, decided at the end of last year for a coaching position in the US professional league WNBA. Now should Mike Thibautwho also trained there for a long time, ensure that the title win is repeated. But in the history of Eurobasket, this only managed to do two teams, Spain and the former Soviet Union.
Belgium’s superstar Emma Meesseman
However, the chances of being part of this elite circle are not bad for Belgium. This is mainly due to superstar Emma Meesseman. As early as 2023, she was elected the best player of the tournament, since then the Belgian has simply removed the title and personal awards. It was only this season that she got together with teammate Julie Allerand The double in Turkey, in the Euroleague she was named the best player of the season for the third time in a row.
Emma Meesseman when warming up.
Messeman has not yet disappointed at this European Championship. On the contrary, with an average of 18 points per game, she is at the forefront, she directs the game of the Belgians. For Leonie Fiebich, Meesseman is the best player in the world. “She is super variable and reads the game like no other”enthuses the 25-year-old in an interview. “But Emma also knows exactly when she either has to score herself or distribute the ball. She is simply smart.”
Congenial duo allemand/vanloo
Germany doesn’t just have to be on the hat off to Messeman. There are also Allemand and Julie Vanloo, the congenial Guard-Duo, which is finally back on the court this year, after Allande missed the Olympic Games due to an injury last year. Vanloo only made the jump into the squad of the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA.
Belgium is completed Starting Five by Antonia Delaere and Kyara Linskens, who not only threw the maximum mark of 25 points in the game against Montenegro, but also harmonizes perfectly with Meesseman. “For me, these are the best players in the world. They know exactly how to win. Belgium also won the title two years ago because they made such smart decisions”, “ So fiebich about their Starting Five. Head coach Mike Thibault can also use a bench with talented young players such as Maxuella Lisowa Mbaka or Nastja Claessens.
DBB women believe in their chance
In all the quality, however, Belgium is to be beat. This showed not only the sensational surprise victory of the German women in the preliminary round of Paris, but also the qualification for the Eurobasket. The prelude to Poland was lost, against Lithuania the Belgians saved themselves with just one point to victory. The Germans, on the other hand, had to take two test game defeats against their quarter-final opponents shortly before the European Championship. However, without Fiebich, Luisa Geiselsöder and Alexandra Wilke.
“Of course, our team looks different again”says Fiebich. “I don’t want to reveal too much, but we will set up a good game plan and then try to get the victory with a lot of energy”announces with a grin. This will probably be interpreted again for Germany’s Starting Five, which almost played through against Spain. A balance. “The bank will probably be used less, but at the same time we have to treat our players a break”says Lisa Thomaidis. Because the tournament is far from over after the quarter -finals. Either the placement games or the long -awaited semi -finals are still waiting for the German team.