Gold for Germany! Led by an outstanding Franz Wagner (18 points), the DBB team won an incredible final thriller against Turkey and is again European champion after 1993. At 88:83 (24: 22.16: 24.26: 21.21: 16), the DBB team had to fight and tremble until the last second.
The golden times of German basketball players continue. After the World Cup triumph 2023, the DBB team also won the European Championship in Riga in Latvian. Germany is the first team to be European champion and world champion at the same time. Turkey continues to wait for the first title at an EM after the narrow defeat. The best thrower of the game was Alperen Sengün with 28 points, on the German side there was 20 points alongside Wagner Isaac Bonga.
Dennis Schröder elected as the most valuable player in the tournament
The player of KK Partizan Belgrade was recognized as a player of the final after his strong performance. Two German players also came to the starting five of the tournament with Dennis Schröder and Wagner, the selection was completed by Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Sengün (Turkey) and Luka Doncic (Slovenia). The award from Schröder as the best player in the tournament rounds off an outstanding German tournament.
As usual, the German starting line -up consisted of Wagner, Schröder, Theis, Bonga and fruit. The hall in Riga was acoustically as expected in Turkish hands and that seemed to inspire the 27th of the world rankings. Cedi Osman started with a successful threesome, but it was above all the Turkish defensive that initially caused problems for the German team. Co-coach Alan Ibrahimagic had to take the first break after only three minutes, at 2:13.
The wake -up call worked. Bonga in particular ran hot and had a large part in the subsequent 12: 1 run of the DBB team. Tristan da Silva then got the first tour of the Germans with a nice threesome at 19:16. And the NBA player of Orlando Magic also set clever fouls in the back. The only problem, both Bonga and Daniel Theis already had two fouls after a few minutes, as did the Turkish star player Sengün.
Türkiye accurate: difficult start for the DBB team
Despite initial difficulties, Germany led after the first quarter with 24:22. This was also due to the superiority of the rebounds, as Silva picked a failure of the recovered Justus Hollatz from the air and increased to 28:22. Then came a strong phase of the Turks, also due to the fourth technical mistake of the Germans. Wagner finished with two fast baskets single -handedly – Punke 10 to 14 for the NBA player.
In the 16th minute, DBB captain Schröder scored his supposedly first points in the game. For several minutes, the referees advised whether it was a criminal attempt to clarify Turkey Adem Bona. The team took the points back and the Turks pulled away again (38:44). The Schröder was completely deregistered to date was mainly due to Sehmus Hazer, who did not give away the German from the side.
Shortly before half -time: Germany’s Franz Wagner with a strong block against Türkis Shane Larkin
For this, Wagner played a strong first half and provided a highlight shortly before the break with an incredible block against Larkin. Nevertheless, the German basketball players went into half time with a six-point deficit. Fans and experts were worried about the elbow from Schröder, who fell on the left side unfavorably after a rescue operation. The building actor removed the worries from the Sacramento Kings immediately after the beginning of the second half. The 31-year-old came back with a threesome.
Osman and Sengün pose problems with problems
In the third quarter, neither of the two teams could settle. With the Turks, the duo Osman/Sengün took over more and more responsibility and scored more than half of their own points. Wagner got a lot of support from Bonga on the German side, which was able to set accents at the back and front. Two good threesome and an attentive Johannes Thiemann under the opposing basket gave a 65:15 lead. Although the third quarter was clearly dominated by Turkey.
Dennis Schröder played the rest of the final with injured left elbows.
Turkey also determined the beginning in the final quarter. Although Wagner narrowly defended him, Osman scored the next three for the 72:66 lead. The game of the two undefeated teams in this European Championship was more than worthy shortly before the end. The performance of the Turkish center in particular was one for the history books: 28 points, three rebounds, three assists, three blocks. Bonga kept the game open with a threesome (69:72).
Schröder trumps in the final phase
In the crucial phases, Germany was able to rely on Bonga again and again. Around two minutes before the end of the game, the previously inconspicuous Theis was released to the throw and gave Germany in the lead with 82:81. The German team’s bank again had a large part in the score. After a below average game, Schröder made 86:83 with a strong two. The previous player of the Sengün game rejected a threesome seconds before the end and Schröder made the game with his two free throw.