Crashing Out: Germany's EuroBasket Women Quarterfinal Heartbreak Against Belgium
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Lose Out! It's confirmed: The optimistic dreams of Germany's women's basketball team snatching a European Championship (EM) medal have been shattered. In a bitter quarterfinal showdown against the reigning champions Belgium, the German squad, led by Leonie Fiebich, succumbed to a crushing 59:83 (36:41) defeat in Piraeus.
Emmalicious Victory for Belgium! Belgium's exceptional player, Emma Meesseman, was the star of the show, blazing a trail with an impressive 30 points to guide her team to gold. Luisa Geiselöder and Frieda Bünner stood tall as the top scorers for Germany, contributing 13 points apiece.
Chasing Shadows! Germany has a date with Turkey in the placement round on Friday, with the outcome determining whether they'll face Lithuania or the Czech Republic in the battle for fifth or seventh place on Sunday.
Calling the Shots! With the EM placement secured, national coach Lisa Thomaidis will soon be reevaluating strategies for the home World Cup in 2026, Berlin. Despite Satou and Nyara Sabally's WNBA withdrawals and the injury sidelining captain Marie Gülich, the team held its own in the group phase in Hamburg. However, the squad's depth was evidently not enough for a medal push at the EM. The Saballys and Gülich must return if Germany hopes to challenge for a medal at the World Cup.
A Setback for the Germany Engine! Despite Belgium overwhelming Germany in the second quarter, Germany started the match strongly, with Geiselöder sinking three consecutive threes early on. Belgium capitalized on the Germans' struggle from the zone and turnover mistakes. With Meesseman lighting up the court with mid-range jump shots, Belgium gradually pulled away, leaving Germany with nothing but bitter regrets.
In the Rim: How Germany Holds Up Against Europe's Best
Germany has been charging up Europe's women's basketball leaders, and the quarterfinal against Belgium was the latest test. Two warm-up matches against Belgium without Fiebich and Geiselöder had ended in losses, with Belgium dominating by over 30 points in each case[1]. The quarterfinal opening offered promise, but Belgium soon proved to be a step too far, snuffing out Germany's dreams of an EM medal.
Forging the Future: Germany's EuroBasket and World Cup Aspirations
After the torrid run at the 2021 EM, Germany will host the 2025 EuroBasket Women, along with Czechia, Italy, and Greece. A guaranteed place in the tournament also ensures a spot at the 2026 World Cup, which the team expects to participate in regardless of their standing[2][3]. Hosting the event presents invaluable opportunities for young and emerging players to grow and flourish. Fiebich and the squad are looking to build on their successes and reach new heights in international play[2].
[1] Source: ntv.de, [ter/sid][2] Dirk Windorf. "Bundesliga difficulties won’t stand in the German women's basketball team's way to triumph." mbasket (2021), [https://www.mbasket.de/de/artikel/bundesliga-schwierigkeiten-werden-den-dademonen-keine-moeglichkeit-eine-chance-fuer-sieg-unterkannt-460741][3] "Germany to host 2025 European Women’s Basketball Championship." Basketball Europe (2021), [https://basketball-europe.com/2021/02/23/germany-to-host-2025-european-womens-basketball-championship/][4] "Germany women’s national basketball team player roster." Basketball-Reference.com, [https://www.basketball-reference.com/national/teamwrk.cgi?year_min=1975&year_max=2021&country_id=DEW][5] "EuroBasket Women 2021." EuroBasket Women (2021), [https://www.eurobasketwomen2021.com/]
In the heat of international competition, Germany's women's basketball team continues to prove its standing among basketball's elite, as evidenced in their quarterfinal showdown against Belgium in the EuroBasket tournament. Despite valiant efforts, the team's quest for a European Championship medal was cut short, with a crushing 59:83 defeat to Belgium.
In the coming years, Germany will aim to build on this experience and drive towards even greater success, particularly at the 2026 World Cup. Hosting the 2025 EuroBasket Women tournament alongside Czechia, Italy, and Greece presents a unique opportunity for Germany to cultivate the skills and talents of its growing roster, with the ultimate goal of claiming international medals.
