World and European champions Germany suffered their first defeat in qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup.
National coach Àlex Mumbrú’s team lost to the still unbeaten hosts Croatia 88:93 (50:46) on Friday evening in Zagreb and thus remains second in the table in Group E of four. The selection of the German Basketball Federation (DBB) had previously clearly won their games against Israel and Cyprus.
In addition to the usual unavailable NBA professionals, Mumbrú was also missing other top players such as Andreas Obst, Johannes Voigtmann, Maodo Lo, Daniel Theis and Isaac Bonga in Croatia for reasons of load management.
Nevertheless, the selection of the German Basketball Federation showed a courageous performance in the Drazen Petrovic Basketball Center in Zagreb. After the first quarter, the world and European champions led by six points (26:20). Also because the German team had Croatia’s star Mario Hezonja well under control for a long time.
Croatians are turning up the heat
That changed in the second quarter. Hezonja, who had been on the floor in Real’s win against Bayern Munich in the Euroleague the day before, now increasingly took over command. But Germany held up well and were still slightly ahead at the break (50:46).
After the break, both teams continued to exchange blows. In the middle of the third period, Germany lost some control of the game for the first time. Also because Hezonja was now running hot and gave the hosts the lead.
Croatia pulled away to seven points in the final period. However, the German team held on with great effort and took the lead again thanks to Jack Kayil, who was only 20 years old (84:83). But then the guests made a few too many mistakes and suffered their first defeat.
Mumbrú: “Made too many mistakes for a close game”
“In the first half we had a good rhythm offensively and defensively and stuck to the game plan,” said Mumbrú: “In the third quarter we gave up some layups and three-pointers too easily. We made too many mistakes for a close game.” It has him “not surprised that Croatia was so strong”.
The coach of the German national basketball team – Àlex Mumbrú
The best thrower in the DBB team was David Krämer with 22 points, while Dario Saric was the Croatian top scorer with 23 points.
The second leg will take place in Bonn on Sunday (from 6 p.m. in the live ticker on sportschau.de). Then the German team has the chance to win the direct comparison with a victory of the same amount and still take first place.
The first three teams in the group reach the second qualifying phase and the results are carried forward. A new group will be formed with the three best teams from season F (Latvia, Poland, Austria, Netherlands). The best three reach the finals in Qatar.
