With returnee Dennis Schröder, the German basketball players got an important victory in the World Cup qualifier a week before their start in the home European Championship.
At the start of the second group stage, the team of national coach Gordon Herbert won 67:50 (46:29) against host Sweden on Thursday (25.08.2022) in Stockholm and consolidated first place.
Because of an ankle injury he suffered last weekend at the Supercup in Hamburg, Schröder traveled to the national team on Wednesday. Only hours before the game in the Hovet, the German Basketball Federation announced that the captain could play.
Well recovered from the Serbia gossip
Four days after the bitter smack in the Supercup final against Serbia (56:83), which Schröder missed, the playmaker was in the starting lineup. There was no sign of the injury from Braunschweig, Schröder ran smoothly.
The again without the NBA Vice Champion Daniel Theis from the Indiana Pacers The German team started strong. Especially NBA-Professional Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) caused problems for the weak Swedes, which in turn hardly came into their own offensively.
problems in the second quarter
After the good first quarter (25:9) the rhythm got lost a bit, Schröder scored badly for a long time after his forced break, but the lead remained stable. In the second round, the audience saw a mixed game.
The DBB team around top scorer Wagner (16 points), which was disappointing in this phase, let the Swedes come up to ten points (52:42/30th minute), but brought the win home.
Starting point is great
Germany has only dropped one point in qualifying so far, three teams from Group J are going to the 2023 World Cup, the starting position is excellent.
Before the start of the European Championship in Cologne against title candidate France (September 1), only the dress rehearsal is on the agenda. On Sunday, the next World Cup qualifier in the Munich Dome will be against European champions Slovenia with NBA star Luka Doncic – the ultimate endurance test.