Will the biggest coup succeed since 2005?: RTL shows German EM spectacle on free TV

Will the biggest coup succeed since 2005?
RTL shows German EM spectacle on free TV

Germany’s basketball players are facing their biggest game since the end of the era of superstar Dirk Nowitzki: In the quarterfinals of the European Championship, the DBB team meets Greece as outsiders around NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. If you win, you still have a chance of winning your first medal since 2005.

Germany’s national basketball team is fighting for the greatest success after the end of the era of superstar Dirk Nowitzki: With a win against Greece on Tuesday (8.30 p.m./ live on RTL and in the live ticker on ntv.de) the team led by Dennis Schröder would make it into the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time since the 2005 European Championship. But the hurdle could hardly be higher: Giannis Antetokounmpo is an exceptional phenomenon with incredible athletic and physical conditions in the squad of the co-favorite for the tournament win.

The two-time MVP of the NBA, the best league in the world, also inspires the greatest respect among the top decision-makers in German basketball: “He’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s one of the best players in the world. He has a winning mentality, which he knows about years in the NBA. It’s going to be a challenge for me,” said DBB leader Dennis Schröder of the professional nicknamed “The Greek Freak.” “We demand the best teams and the best players in the world. It’s about controlling Giannis. I just don’t know how yet,” added head coach Gordon Herbert with a smug grin.

“Key moment” on free TV

Meanwhile, the DBB team’s quarter-finals will be the first game of the current European Championship to be broadcast live on free TV. RTL will broadcast the basketball spectacle live from 8:15 p.m. from Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena. “The German team offered a spectacular preliminary round at their home European Championship with thrilling duels and sparked a new euphoria about their sport with great team spirit,” said Stephan Schmitter, Managing Director of RTL News, in a statement. “Against the top favorites Greece, the key moment of the tournament will now come, and the whole of Germany can be there up close and personal on free TV.” According to the announcement, the Cologne broadcaster agreed on a sublicense agreement with the rights holder Telekom, which broadcasts the game online. “Many thanks to our partners from Telekom for giving this outstanding German sporting moment the biggest possible stage with us!”

After the first games of the tournament, the President of the German Basketball Federation, Ingo Weiss, criticized the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF for not showing the German games live. The broadcasters rejected the criticism. “I’m very happy that RTL is broadcasting our quarter-finals live, giving the general public the opportunity to be there,” said Weiss. “At the same time, I would like to thank our media partner Magenta Sport for making this broadcast possible. Basketball with the national team on free-to-air television at prime time: that’s what we wanted and now we’re hoping for a great quarterfinals in the EuroBasket Arena in Berlin.”

“A great challenge”

Despite the enormous task, the German camp is optimistic: “We don’t think our journey is over,” said the confident Herbert. Even in 2005, the semi-finals of the European Championships were not over: 74:73 the DBB team defeated Spain, an outstanding Dirk Nowitzki decided the game four seconds before the end with his points 26 and 27. This time, too, Spain could be the opponent in a possible semi-final be. In the 2005 final, however, the German team had no chance: 62:78 was the score at the end of the last really successful tournament for the national basketball team – against Greece.

“If you want to achieve something, you have to win against the best teams. It will be a great challenge, we take it with pride,” Dennis Schröder gave a final look at the duel that was the eye of the needle on the way to a really big triumph – because the possible semi-final opponents Spain and Finland are unbeatable for the German team after their strong impressions so far at this European Championship. The big favorite Serbia is no longer in the tournament after a surprising defeat against Italy. The last international title so far was won by a DBB selection in 1993 – at a European championship in their own country.

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