After a year with national coach Gordon Herbert, the German Basketball Association (DBB) drew a very satisfied interim balance. “I’m really impressed by how Gordie organizes it. It feels like bad news every day, you have to constantly reschedule. Gordie always manages to bring the players to a level that they are quickly competitive,” said Vice President Armin Andres of the German Press Agency before the World Cup qualifier against Finland on Friday (7 p.m. / Magentasport) in Bamberg.

Herbert gave German basketball its first medal in 17 years at the European Championships at home in the summer and, despite numerous failures, is now on the verge of buying the World Cup ticket for 2023 with his team. A win against Finland would be enough. “We should win one more game, preferably on Friday in Bamberg. Then everything would be a bit more relaxed,” said Andres. The detailed planning for the tournament in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines next summer will only start next spring. Only then will a draw be drawn as to which of the three countries Germany would contest its preliminary round in.

World Cup Qualification Schedule Tables World Cup 2023 Schedule