World's Basketball Competitors Kick Off the Tournament with a Bang
In the opening match of EuroBasket 2022, Germany faced a tough challenge against hosts Slovenia. The German team, without the presence of key player Dennis Schröder, struggled to keep up with Slovenia's strong performance.
Luka Dončić scored an impressive 19 points for Slovenia, setting a new high for a Slovenian player in a EuroBasket game. Germany, on the other hand, managed to maintain focus and intensity from the start, but the absence of Schröder proved to be a significant disadvantage.
The German team, led by NBA player Franz Wagner and David Kramer, each with 18 points, fought hard but could not match Slovenia's performance. Wagner, however, had a limited playing time due to fouling out early with five fouls.
In the absence of Schröder, the German team's medal aspirations took a hit. The reigning world champions, who were also missing Maodo Lo and Daniel Theis due to injury, could not overcome the strong opposition from Slovenia.
Head coach Mumbru had exactly 12 players available for the first test of the preparation, including 19-year-old Christian Anderson who made a spectacular dunk in his first international game. Despite the team's hard work in a training camp in Malaga, the team showed no signs of fatigue.
In the second quarter, Germany built a ten-point lead (49-39), but the overly strict refereeing did not benefit the game overall. The German team managed to maintain its lead without Wagner in the second half, but it was not enough to secure a win.
Center Theis stated that Germany is going to the EuroBasket to win the title, and the team's later performances in preparation for EuroBasket 2025, where Schröder's contribution alongside Wagner helped Germany edge past Slovenia, highlight the importance of his presence.
Germany will face Montenegro in its opening match at the EuroBasket in Tampere, Finland (27 August). The top four teams from the six-team group will advance to the knockout round in Riga, Latvia. Germany will be hoping for a stronger performance in their upcoming matches, with Schröder's return expected to boost their chances of medaling.
The German team's lack of key player Dennis Schröder not only affected their performance against Slovenia in the EuroBasket 2022, but also hindered their medal aspirations. Despite the team's plans to focus on sports such as basketball and challenge for the title, the absence of Schröder was evident in their NBA-style play.
