The German basketball hope Franz Wagner threatens to miss the national team in the crucial World Cup phase in Asia.
The 22-year-old Orlando Magic professional was unable to complete a full training session with contact in Manila today, as national coach Gordon Herbert said in the evening after the easy session. It is questionable whether it will be enough for the quarter-finals against Latvia on Wednesday (10.45 a.m.).
“We have to look at it tomorrow. We look from day to day. We have to see how his ankle feels. From there we have to look further. It’s a process,” said Herbert about the hopeful, who has already played four World Cup games missed.
NBA professional Wagner has been missing since the first group game
Herbert didn’t seem really confident. The 64-year-old head coach had said repeatedly in the past few days that Wagner had to complete a full session before a World Cup appearance.
Wagner was seen taking shots at Manila’s Mall of Asia Arena. He already looked more mobile than in the previous week. However, the longer and longer break also seems to affect the young star mentally.
“He wants to play. He’s quite frustrated and disappointed that he can’t play. He really wants to come back,” said Herbert. Wagner has only been on the floor in the 81:63 opening win against hosts Japan. In that game, he was injured in the final quarter when Germany was already clearly in the lead.