Ennobled as co-favourite
Only the weather can bring the German team out of the World Cup concept
8/30/2023, 6:27 p.m
The group phase is going perfectly for the German basketball players. So good that coach Gordon Herbert gives his players a day off. The Wagner brothers meet with their parents – and all together to the fans who have traveled with them. What is now threatening leaves the team cold.
The sun shone over Okinawa when Moritz and Franz Wagner collected their parents and escaped from the World Cup hype. “I actually went to the beach with my family in a very relaxed manner,” said Moritz: “And I didn’t think about basketball that much, which is very refreshing.” On the day off after the perfect World Cup group stage, the German medal hunters urgently needed to switch off.
Especially Franz, who missed the last two group games because of an ankle injury, found the break with Mama Beate and Papa Axel very convenient. “It was very nice just to be together as a family for a bit and to get away from all the hustle and bustle a bit,” said the 22-year-old. Rest, relaxation and family – this is how the basketball nation’s ankle heals the fastest.
Wagner was very pleased that the team was able to shine without him after his injury at the start against Japan and made it into the second round with a perfect record of three wins from three group games. In the victories against Australia (85:82) and Finland (101:75), the team “played two good games”, says Wagner: “At the same time, of course, it’s difficult for me. I’d like to be out there and would like to be able to support the team on the help pitch.”
A fan meeting is also on the agenda
However, it is still unclear whether Wagner will be fit for the intermediate round on Friday against Georgia and Sunday against superstar Luka Doncic and Slovenia when it comes to tickets for the knockout round in Manila. But very few thought of that on Wednesday, national coach Gordon Herbert had released the team after three games in five days.
No team training, eating together and strength training optional. In addition to the Wagners, Johannes Thiemann, Justus Hollatz and David Krämer also splashed around in the light blue sea on Sunset Beach before a meeting with German fans was scheduled for the afternoon. In the La’gent Hotel, 200 meters away from the team hotel Hilton, the German players met 36 supporters who had traveled with them, who received the team with applause.
Selfies, autographs, casual chats in a speed dating atmosphere: the stars around captain Dennis Schröder took their time and fulfilled every wish. “As a player, you take it for granted far too often. You forget that there is a person behind it who sacrifices vacation and money to fly here and support us,” said Moritz Wagner: “And that’s very cool to see .”
Disturbance already known
Herbert won’t ask his players to go back to training until tomorrow, Thursday. According to the coach, his players should “clear their heads” by then. It is best for the national players to then turn off their weather apps. A typhoon is approaching the Japanese island, which it should reach in time for the first intermediate round game on Friday. Herbert took the situation with humor. “Hopefully we’re the typhoon on Friday night,” joked the Canadian. Hollatz was reminded of the rocket alarm shortly before the start of the World Cup: “We’ve had a disturbance in the night before. I don’t think that can stop us.”
The atmosphere in the team is excellent, no wonder after the great group phase. But Herbert immediately put the brakes on the euphoria: “We’re only halfway on the way to the top of the mountain. We have higher expectations.” Namely a medal. And for that, the Germans have to get into the top two teams in their intermediate round group in order to qualify for the quarter-finals.
The impressive appearances at the World Cup mean that Germany is increasingly becoming one of the tournament favourites. Finland’s coach Lassi Tuovi named the third-placed in the European Championship after his team’s 75:101 defeat as a top candidate for the title. “You can make it to the very end,” said Tuovi. Steve Kerr had already made a similar statement after his US team had a lot of trouble with the 99:91 in Abu Dhabi. It is “clear that Germany is one of the best teams in the world,” Kerr told dpa. The achievements at the World Cup in Japan prove this impressively.