Germany’s basketball players are in an EM form – this conclusion allows at least the last test against Spain four days before the first tournament match. The DBB team also defeated Spain on Saturday (23.08.2025) in Cologne in the second duel, after the victory in the extension two days earlier there was a clear 95:78 (49:39).
The preparation was very gratifying before the final Spain game, there were four victories in five games (only defeat against EM-Topfavorit Serbia)-but the DBB selection went into the general rehearsal with a bad news: David Krämer will not be there at the tournament in Latvia, Finland, Finland and Poland, in which Germany will start against Montenegro on August 27.
The sniper had suffered a muscle injury in the first test game against Slovenia (103: 89) and is not released by his new club Real Madrid. “This is a bitter blow for us, David was planned as an important part of our team”said national coach Alex Mumbru. Krämer was part of the world champion squad two years ago, and in 2024 he did not make it to the Olympic team as a 13th player, which was fourth in Paris.
Germany turns up in the first quarter
In the European Championship, Germany will also be favorites without a crawler – and against Spain the Mumbru team wanted to underpin this again. And the team did that at the beginning: Captain Dennis Schröder, who had decided the first meeting of the two nations in the extension, the German game steered in the right direction. Franz Wagner could not be stopped on the way to the basket. The three fell – after the first five minutes it was 15: 8.
Spain had few remedies against the offensive of the DBB team and even less remedies against the defensive. Germany provoked the opponent’s ball losses and was mainly in the Reboundingthe reigning European champion did not get a second chance. So it went into the first break with a comfortable 24:11 lead – Wagner already had ten points in the account.
Wagner not to brake, Aldama arouses Spain
Orlando Magic’s NBA professional also scored the first five points for his team in the second quarter, on the other hand, only Santi Aldama (eleven of the first 16 Spanish points) was able to follow the level of the Germans. And his colleagues then adapted to him, Spain stuck to 29:38 with a good run. Santiago Yusta (seven points) in particular convinced in this phase.
| Opponent | Result | |
|---|---|---|
Slovenia | 103: 89 | |
Slovenia | 80:70 | |
Türkiye (Supercup) | 73:71 | |
Serbia (Supercup) | 81:91 | |
Spain | 106: 105 NV | |
Spain | 95:78 |
Germany lost the thread, suddenly played impatiently, concluded its attacks very early and sometimes even without a passport. However, the Mumbru team fought back with a strong defensive and pulled away at 46:31 before half-time with an 8-0 run-but then subsided in zone defense. Spain got two very open threesome shortly before the break, after half the season it was 49:39.
Wagner and Schröder lead Germany to victory
Afterwards the game became much more torn, Germany lost the rhythm and more and more from the once big lead. After Spain shortened to 53:58 (26th), Mumbru wanted to bring about a turn with a break. And the trainer was able to rely on his captain. With its third three, Schröder increased again, after a basket, the DBB team was again in the front of a double (63:53). The final quarter was 65:54.
Germany no longer played so consistently, also showed one or the other weakness under its own basket, but again and again in the moments when it was threatened to be tight, Schröder was on hand. With a spectacular basket including foul and transformed free throw, he again set 76:68 (35th). And shortly afterwards the game returned to a ten-point difference when Andi Obst turned a threesome to 81:71 (36th).
The outstanding Wagner finally brought the victory under the roof and subject, who increased with his points 24 to 27 with almost perfect throw rates (at the end 29 points at 9 out of 10 from the field and 10 out of 11 during free throws). Schröder (a total of 22 points and nine assists) with his threesome to 88:71 finally triggered the mood in Cologne (38th). The two German stars sat on the bench two minutes before the end. The convincing 95:78 success did not change anything.