From BZ/dpa
It almost doesn’t get any heavier! A big chunk awaits Germany in the quarter-finals of the European Championship. But superstar Antetokounmpo is not the only reason why the Greeks can hope for their first major success in 13 years.
After the surprising elimination of top favorite Serbia, Germany’s quarter-final opponent Greece is the number one gold candidate at the European Basketball Championship. The Hellenes are the only team still undefeated before the game on Tuesday evening (8.30 p.m. / Magentasport and RTL) in Berlin.
Alba star Johannes Thiemann (left) has to limit the circles of super Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo Photo: picture alliance/dpa
However, they had to tremble for a long time against the Czech Republic in the round of 16 before Giannis Antetokounmpo made the difference again.
The Superstar: Everything in the team of coach Dimitrios Itoudis revolves around Giannis Antetokounmpo. “The Greek Freak”, as the exceptional 27-year-old basketball player is known, is the focal point for the Greeks. The two-time MVP of the NBA has averaged 29 points and 9.2 rebounds in the tournament so far. There’s a lot of work for Alba-Star Johannes Thiemann to.
However, the 2.11 meter high power pack does not show great airs and graces. “Giannis is so humble and committed. Incorporating him into your team is the easiest. He has huge respect for his opponents. He loves this game,” Itoudis said of Antetokounmpo, whose brothers Thanasis and Kostas are also in the squad.
National coach Gordon Herbert and his captain Dennis Schröder. He says: “Stopping Giannis is almost impossible.” Photo: picture alliance/dpa
The rest: Antetokounmpo makes the Greek team very special, but even without their superstar, the Greeks would have been a strong team. Numerous players like Tyler Dorsey or Kostas Sloukas have a lot of experience in the Euroleague. It will therefore not be enough for the German team to just stop Antetokounmpo. “Ultimately, you have to try to downplay the others. It’s almost impossible to stop Giannis,” said Germany’s captain Dennis Schroeder.
The longing: The Greeks have been waiting for a medal at a major tournament for 13 years. In 2009 Greece won bronze at the European Championships in Poland, since then the Greeks have gone away empty-handed, although they always had good teams. With Antetokounmpo, the great longing should now be satisfied – it would be the third European title after 1987 and 2005.