After the basketball festival games in the Finnish Tampere, the German world champions want to provide magical moments in the Latvian Riga and crown themselves on September 14th. But the way to the first European Championship title in 32 years could be more difficult than expected.
After the round of 16 against Portugal this Saturday (2:15 p.m./RTL and Magenta Sport), in which anything but a clear German victory would be a big surprise, Italy or Slovenia would be waiting for Germany with NBA superstar Luka Doncic in the quarter-finals. In the semi -finals it could go against Topfavorit Serbia with exceptional player Nikola Jokic or France.
“Now a new tournament begins. Now we have to develop everything again, have to be ready,” said the so successful interim coach Alan Ibrahimagic, who could move back into the second member in the Xiaomi Arena of Riga. Because national coach Alex Mumbru has largely cure his abdominal disease, so that he could coach the German team against the Portuguese for the first time at this European Championship.
On the day of the travel on Thursday, the Spaniard made a good impression again and smiled into the cameras. Mumbru can’t wait to take over the scepter again and continue the successful work of Ibrahimagic. However, Mumbrus has not yet decided. The successor of World Champion coach Gordon Herbert left the press work on his assistant the day before the round of 16.
Focus on your own strengths
Problems do not expect any problems in the German camp by changing the staff. In the days of Tampere, the German team looked too strengthened and homogeneous, no team triumphed as strongly as that of the world champion. “We should be focused on ourselves and play our basketball. If we do this, we always have a good chance of ending the game as the winner,” said Dennis Schröder, which was previously outstanding with NBA-Jungstar Franz Wagner.
But the German team is warned. With a change of city during the tournament, Schröder and Co. had no good experiences last year at the Olympic Games. In Lille, the world champion conjured up in 2024 as impressive as now in Tampere. When it came to the medals in Paris, the swing was gone. In the end there was a disappointing fourth place.
Expert sees team matured
This should be prevented this time. And the missing world champion Moritz Wagner, as a TV expert, is sure that there will be no break-in this time. At that time, the team was tired at the end of the historic World Cup season. “This year we had enough time to relax and it is fresh Juice. The team looks mature,” said Wagner. “This is the best basketball team I have ever been with,” said Franz Wagner’s brother, who was always upgraded from California at Magentasport.
The players have long since internalized the fact that this team has what it takes to be the title. The fact that Germany has ended up in the heavier half of the so -called tournament tree is not particularly worried. “We want to be European champions. You have to beat everyone,” said veteran Johannes Thiemann.
EuroBasket 2025: Key Data and Potential Obstacles
As Germany eyes its first EuroBasket title in over three decades, the path ahead presents formidable challenges. The team’s performance hinges not only on their skill but also on navigating a gauntlet of strong opponents. This section provides an in-depth look at the teams to watch and the key statistics that could define the tournament’s outcome.
Potential Matchups and Key Players
The road to the championship is paved with potential clashes against basketball powerhouses. Here’s a look at some key matchups and player spotlights:
| Potential Opponent | Key Player(s) | Threat Level | Noteworthy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy/Slovenia | Luka Dončić (Slovenia) | High | Dončić’s playmaking abilities make Slovenia a top contender. |
| Serbia | Nikola Jokić | Very High | Jokić’s dominance in the NBA positions Serbia as the tournament favorite. |
| France | Unknown – France is a perennial contender, roster TBD. | High | France consistently fields a strong team, capable of going far. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Jusuf Nurkic, John Roberson | Medium | Bosnia and Herzegovina upset Greece 80-77 in the qualifiers [[1]]. |
This table showcases the caliber of competition Germany faces. The inclusion of Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić in the same bracket highlights the tournament’s high stakes.
