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«I had to have seen the final in my living room»

Just a few minutes have passed since the final honk and the stands now speak only in Spanish. cater Lorenzo Brown to the television and the shouting prevents him from hearing clearly. “Lorenzooooo, Lorenzoooo!” The Spanish fans, more numerous than in previous days, cheer for their new hero. Definitely adopted player. One more of the family. Shortly before, in the center of the track, the hugs follow one another. Especially emotional that of the Hernango shirt. Also that of the assistants of scario. Tears escape and also some expletives. Total madness on the pitch, because Spain has just achieved the unthinkable.

“I’m very happy. Surely it is the most unexpected medal. But let’s see what color we put on it. France is a team with another physical dimension but we will try to invent something to be able to compete. France will be an Everest. I’m thinking to see how we continue to mislead the staff», Scariolo pointed out at a press conference in reference to Sunday’s rival. A Gallic team that yesterday beat Poland (54-95) in the most lopsided semifinal in Eurobasket history. An exhibition that no longer scares the national team, which at this point believes it is capable of anything.

Whether it’s gold or silver, it will be the team’s seventh consecutive medal in a European Championship. Three golds (2009, 2011 and 2015), one silver (2007) and two bronzes (2013 and 2017). A dynasty that has no end and that has found a group in Germany to continue extending those successes.

The link between the past and the future is Rudy Fernández, whose small body ended up flying through the air yesterday, manned by his teammates. «The secret is this shirt, this family. I am very happy for this team and for what we have achieved. We have believed and we are in the final », said the Spaniard, spurred on by his teammates while he attended the media in the mixed zone. On the way to the locker room there are shouts and signs of joy.

«All this is incredible, especially the experience of living it with all the teammates who have welcomed me as if I had always been in the team. We have one game left I was going to see it from the living room of my house and living it here is a dream». The one who speaks, with tears in his eyes, is Alberto Díaz, broken into the Mediaset microphones. His journey is the most incredible of all, since he arrived at the European Championship after Llull’s last injury and has become an unexpected hero. A key player who dried Schröder yesterday in the last quarter.

“I cannot find the words to congratulate this team for this incredible medal that they have achieved with such hard work. We win as a team, because that’s what basketball is, a team sport. In the last quarter, we always chose the best option to put the attacks in the right hands, something that we did not do in our worst moments, in the final stretch of the second quarter and in some of the third. Once again, we trust us and we won this amazing game. This does not happen by chance. There are many years of hard work here. In the end, it’s about being a team,” Scariolo said.

The Italian who has led Spain to the podium in eight of the ten championships in which he has led the national team is also historic. Even so, he always prefers to focus on the players. In the veterans, and in the young people who have surprised him this summer. «You do not expect this coldness in debutants and, look at him, four of four of Usman Garuba in free throws. Although for me the most important data is the character, the competitiveness and how they have been conjured up as a team. Even Lorenzo plays pocha», joked the coach, who wants more for the final. Next to him, happy but calm, a Lorenzo Brown who took credit away. «I am not a star, we are a team. There is one game left and we want to be ready to play », he pointed out.

A duel that will be the most difficult yet against a France that recovered its good feelings in the semifinals after a hesitant start to the championship. They were about to fall in the round of 16 against Turkey and also in the quarterfinals against Italy, but he resurfaced with an unshakable faith that now challenges Spain in a duel behind which the gold is hidden.

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