World Cup Opening Marked by Basketball Players' Triumphant Shout
Germany Defeats Slovenia in First Test Match Ahead of EuroBasket 2025
The German basketball team kicked off their preparation for EuroBasket 2025 with a strong win, defeating hosts Slovenia 103-89 in Ljubljana. Franz Wagner led the charge for Germany, scoring 18 points in just 17 minutes, despite the absence of key players such as Dennis Schröder and Daniel Theis.
Germany demonstrated their dominance in size and athleticism, employing aggressive defense, including double teams on Luka Dončić, who was under a minutes restriction following offseason adjustments. The team, composed mostly of NBA and EuroLeague-level players, positioned themselves as strong medal contenders for the tournament.
Despite missing Schröder and Theis in the friendly, Germany managed a convincing victory. No additional major injuries have been reported, indicating the team is largely intact aside from these absences for the opener. Slovenia, on the other hand, had key players missing who are focusing on health and rehabilitation.
Germany's next preparation includes a second friendly rematch against Slovenia in Mannheim, Germany, before EuroBasket 2025 officially starts later in August. The tournament group stage schedule places Germany in Group B in Tampere, Finland, where they will face opponents including Montenegro, Sweden, Lithuania, Great Britain, and Finland.
In the first test match, Germany was ahead by ten points at halftime with a score of 53:48. Mumbru used all 12 players, including 19-year-old Christian Anderson, who made a spectacular dunk in his first international game. The team did not show any signs of fatigue, maintaining a lead over Slovenia from the first quarter.
Even without Wagner in the second half due to foul trouble, Germany managed to keep the game under control, securing a comfortable victory. Luka Dončić scored 19 points for Slovenia. The top four teams in the six-team group will advance to the knockout round in Riga, Latvia.
The European Championship will take place from August 27 to September 14, with Germany's opening match against Montenegro in Tampere, Finland. Schröder, who was absent in the Slovenian capital for personal reasons, is expected to return for the second duel with Slovenia in Mannheim.
Germany's center, Daniel Theis, stated that the team is participating in the European Championship to defend their title. The team had previously prepared in a training camp in Malaga and had worked hard for about a week, underscoring their medal ambitions for the tournament.
[1] Basketball Germany
[2] Eurohoops
[3] EuroBasket 2025 Group Stage Draw
[1] Germany's basketball team's impressive performance in the NBA and EuroLeague, along with their strong win against Slovenia, highlights their potential for success in the upcoming EuroBasket 2025.
[2] The next test match for the German basketball team will be a rematch against Slovenia, providing an opportunity for Germany to further demonstrate their dominance in size, athleticism, and strategy before the official start of EuroBasket 2025.
[3] As the EuroBasket 2025 group stage draw places Germany in Group B, alongside Montenegro, Sweden, Lithuania, Great Britain, and Finland, fans can expect an exciting tournament featuring some of the top basketball teams from across Europe.
