From BZ/dpa
Germany surprisingly beats EM favorite France in the first group game with 76:63. Three Berliners were the best German point collectors.
In front of almost 18,000 enthusiastic spectators in Cologne, the team of national coach Gordon Herbert showed a strong performance on Thursday evening and raised hopes for the first medal since 2005 only four days after the clear victory over defending champion Slovenia in the World Cup qualification.
With 14 points, Johannes Thiemann was the best thrower of the German team, which took a first step towards the round of 16 with this success. Alba playmaker Maodo Lo scored 13 points, as did Berlin-born Niels Giffey.
Alba playmaker Maodo Lo pulls to the basket against Frenchman Vincent Poirier Photo: Marius Becker/dpa
In front of a large crowd, things got off to a rather bumpy start for both sides: France’s defensive anchor Rudy Gobert allowed himself an airball on a free throw, so he didn’t even hit the ring. Germany, on the other hand, waited almost four minutes for the first points after several misunderstandings before captain Schröder converted two free throws.
Then things got better. Returnee Daniel Theis, who was unable to play for about two weeks due to knee problems, seemed stable and flexible. With his athleticism and versatility, the 30-year-old NBA professional not only enriched the offensive, but was also an important counterweight to NBA star Gobert, around whom the French team is built.
The Alba duo Maodo Lo and Johannes Thiemann as well as ex-Berliner Niels Giffey provided important impetus from the bank. The reward for a solid team performance was the lead at half-time. Unlike at the start of the 2019 World Cup (74:78 against France), the Herbert team was competitive from the start. Schröder initially impressed more as a playmaker, but the hosts also functioned primarily as a collective.
With the exception of Gobert and Evan Fournier, France no longer has the big names it did in the days of Tony Parker, but is still considered one of the favorites to win the tournament. In Slovenia, with NBA superstar Luka Doncic and Lithuania, two more tricky opponents await in Group B. If there is another win against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday (2.30 p.m.), qualification for the final round in Berlin will be within reach.