There are always special basketball games for Gordon Herbert. Twice against Finland in qualifying, twice against Canada in preparation for the World Cup – and now again against the Finns, who are very familiar to him.
“It’s a bit weird because I know all the players and I’ve coached a lot of them. It was weird against Canada. I’ve spent most of my life in Finland, so it’s a bit uncomfortable. But when the game starts, it’s just a game like any other,” said Herbert before the duel today (9.30 a.m. / Magentasport).
Germany qualified for intermediate round
The 64-year-old is Canadian but has spent most of his career as a player and coach in Finland and Germany. At the end of the World Cup preliminary round in Okinawa, Japan, he once again experienced a duel between his second home and his third. “We had two good games against them in qualifying, both were close. We know each other very well,” said Herbert, who now lives at the German association’s headquarters in Hagen, but still spends time in Finland.
It is already clear how the two teams will continue in the tournament: after two victories, Germany and Herbert have qualified for the intermediate round as group winners. Last year’s third place in the European Championship needs another win to improve the starting position for the other games.
Finland around NBA professional Lauri Markkanen is already out after the defeats against Australia and Japan. The game isn’t worthless though. “They’re playing for the Olympic qualifiers. They’ll come out and try to win,” said captain Dennis Schröder.
