Brazil hands Canada its first World Cup loss

Canada’s first loss in the World Cup will provide basketball fans with a thrilling Sunday: Canada-Spain scheduled to close the second round (3:30 p.m.) will qualify the winner in the quarter-finals, and eliminate the loser from the competition.

A scenario caused by the surprise defeat of the Canadians this Friday against Brazil (65-69), in a match that the scorers of the France team at the opening of the World Cup seemed able to control. Despite the loss of the first quarter (13-16, 10th), the men of Jordi Fernandez, still guided by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23 points, 5 rebounds) reacted to join the locker room with a lead that did not suggest the continuation of the game (37-27, 20th).

An address at half mast (39% at two points, 27% at three points) was responsible for allowing the Brazilians, carried by the interior Bruno Caboclo (19 points, 13 rebounds) then by the leader Yago Santos (8 points, 10 assists), to gradually return to the game. To the point of turning in the lead 1’38” from the end (59-60), and then holding on.

In group L, all the teams (Spain, Brazil, Latvia and Canada) now have the same record (3 wins for 1 loss) after Latvia’s victory against Spain (74-69). This has therefore simplified the equations: only the winners of Sunday (Spain-Canada and Latvia-Brazil) will see Manila and the final phase.

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Four teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup: Slovenia, Germany, Lithuania and the United States.