Germany Crowned EuroBasket Champions, Defeats Serbia in Thrilling Final

The Mannschaft, bronze medalist in 2002 with Dirk Nowitzki, also won its second title after Euro-1993. Led by Dennis Schröder (28 pts including his team’s last five), she made the difference in the third quarter (won 22 to 10), at the end of which she led 69 to 57, before resisting the comeback of the Serbs, crowned for the last time in 2002.

This coronation, without losing a single match and after eliminating the United States in the semi-finals, consecrates the reconstruction work carried out since post-Nowitzki and extends a successful Euro-2022 at home, with a third place, then best Germany’s result since 2005 (Euro final).

Coached by the Canadian Gordon Herbert, she succeeds Spain on the list.

After having managed to contain the Serbs, who came back three lengths at 1 min 20 sec from the end (78-75), after a winning shot then three free throws from the leader Aleksa Avramovic, the man of the match on the Serbian side (21 pts ).

After an interception by captain and point guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who died in the second half (two points, 17 in total), Marko Guduric then had the equalizing ball but his long-range shot did not find the target.

And Schröder, penetrating the Serbian racket 22 seconds from the buzzer then scoring his two free throws (83-77), completed the German success.

Bogdanovic and Milutinov diminished

The next point guard of the Toronto Raptors was voted MVP of the competition.

The Mannschaft was also able to count on the 19 points of its winger Franz Wagner, relieved at the start of the match of his regular defender Ognjen Dobric (injured an ankle after 2 min 20 seconds).

“We would have needed more depth on the bench. Dobric is very important for us, Milutinov had a muscle problem after the semi-final against Canada and Bogdanovic was feeling bad before the match. He didn’t know if he could play. I have rarely experienced so many problems in my career,” explained Svestislav Pesic.

“We should have been in better physical shape,” added the Serbia coach who also lost Borisa Simanic in the first round (removal of a kidney after a blow received by a South Sudanese).

Germany also relied on the domination in the paint of Johannès Voigtmann (12 pts, 8 rebounds and 3 assists), who extinguished the Serbian pivot Nikola Milutinov (2 pts on free throws, 4 rebounds), brilliant in the semi-finals against Canada.

“We made our country proud and we gave it a smile. We will aim for gold at the Olympics next year,” said Avramovic, for whom the Germans have “gone up a notch in aggressiveness in the third quarter.

2023-09-10 15:57:09
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