After the sovereign success in Estonia, Germany’s basketball players are on course and can take another big step in the World Cup qualification with a win against Poland.
The journey home from Tallinn to Bremen was a little adventure for Germany’s basketball players. After returning from Estonia, where the DBB team had won a comfortable 88:57 away win in the World Cup qualifier on Thursday (30.06.22), the connecting flight in Frankfurt was only canceled. The DBB team then had to wait four hours for their luggage and finally arrived in Bremen by bus, eight hours later than originally planned.
However, this could not dampen the good mood among the team around the returned NBA director Dennis Schröder. Confidently on course towards participation in the 2023 World Cup, two duels with NBA superstar Luka Doncic in front of the chest and a huge chance with a then probably heavily changed squad at the home European Championships from September 1st in Cologne and Berlin: things are going very well for the national team and national coach Gordon Herbertwho confidently steers the team through the World Cup qualification despite a considerable lack of personnel.
“Now we have a good starting position. If we can still put the lid on it on Sunday, that would be ideal. If we have five wins, that would be excellent“, said Vice President Armin Andres after the fourth qualifying win in a row.
As leaders in Season D with Poland, Israel and Estonia, Germany’s basketball players also have a top starting position for further World Cup qualification.
DBB team wants another win against Poland
On Sunday (6:00 p.m.) in Bremen they face Poland first, another win is a must. “Of course there are fluctuations in performance, but also continuity. The players get used to the coach’s style, and it shows very clearly in the games‘ Andres stated with satisfaction.
Head coach Herbert was more than happy with the appearance in Tallinn, where everything focused on Schröder’s return after almost three years. “I’m very proud of my team, it was a very good performance overall. I was very happy defensively“, said the 63-year-old. The 28-year-old Schröder found that his game still had “dreadful” Looked like. The professional of the Houston Rockets distinguished himself again as a strong all-rounder with high explosiveness despite a miserable throwing rate.
More qualifying games in August – probably against Slovenia with Doncic
Before the demanding European Championship preliminary round with games against Slovenia, France and Lithuania awaits, qualifying games for the 2023 World Cup will be played in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines in August. According to the schedule of the world association Fiba, it will definitely go against Doncic and Slovenia. Either on August 25th in Slovenia or on August 28th in Munich. This will only be decided at the end of the group on Sunday. “Of course that would be a highlight in Munich. That would be an ideal showdown and the ideal preparation for the European Championship“, said official Andres.
For many professionals, the home game against Poland in Bremen will be the last chance to make a name for themselves. In addition to Schröder, only Johannes Voigtmann and Isaac Bonga should be set from the current squad. Even professionals like Bamberg’s Christian Sengfelder, who shone with 23 points and nine rebounds in Estonia, would have to worry about a squad place for the home European Championship given the strong competition.
NBA pros to come in August
In addition to the master duo Maodo Lo and Johannes Thiemann (both Alba Berlin), captain Robin Benzing and the NBA professionals Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner, Maximilian Kleber and Daniel Theis are expected for the August window. The casting for the second row, which has so far come through the World Cup qualification unscathed with the exception of a home defeat against Estonia, is going into the final round for the time being.