World's Basketball Team Marks the Start of the Cup with an Exclamation
In a thrilling EuroBasket preparation match on August 8, 2025, Germany emerged victorious against Slovenia with a score of 103-89. Despite the absence of key players like Dennis Schröder and Daniel Theis, Germany's roster, rich in NBA and EuroLeague talent, dominated the game by exploiting Slovenia's lack of size and athleticism, particularly on the offensive glass.
Luka Dončić, Slovenia’s star player, along with Klemen Prepelič, were the main EuroLeague-level talents for Slovenia in the game. Germany used aggressive on-ball pressure and frequent double-teams on Dončić’s pick-and-roll plays to limit his impact, a defensive strategy likely to continue in the EuroBasket tournament. Dončić showed flashes of his skill, including knocking down a three-pointer early, but Germany’s depth and physicality were decisive.
Franz Wagner was a standout for Germany, playing sharply and in control. However, Wagner fouled out early with five fouls midway through the third quarter, which could be a concern moving forward.
Looking ahead, Germany and Slovenia are scheduled to face each other again in another preparation game on Sunday. This rematch offers Slovenia an opportunity to adjust their strategy and attempt to counter Germany’s dominance.
With their strong performance in the preparation match, Germany looks poised to be one of the favorites for medals in EuroBasket 2025. Slovenia, with key players missing and relying heavily on Dončić, are currently seen as underdogs who would need a strong run to reach medal contention.
The EuroBasket tournament will take place from August 27 to September 14. Germany will face Montenegro in their opening match of the EM in Tampere, Finland on August 27.
References:
- Eurohoops
- Eurohoops 2
- Sportskeeda
- Basketball-News
- Eurohoops 3
In the upcoming EuroBasket 2025 tournament, sports-analysis suggests Germany's aggressive defense on Luka Dončić, notably through on-ball pressure and double-teams on his pick-and-roll plays, will likely continue, given their success in limiting his impact. Considering the impressive performance of the German team in sports, particularly in basketball, they are viewed as contenders for medals in the tournament.
