The first defeat of the preparation should not deter the German basketball players from their hoped-for World Cup medal.
National coach Gordon Herbert classified the 112:113 after extra time against Canada in the final of the Supercup as a welcome learning effect. “You learn more from defeats than from victories,” said Herbert in Hamburg. “I’m glad we had this game. The lads did very well for 32 minutes.”
But in the closing stages, the German team gave up the lead, also because captain Dennis Schröder had to watch from the bench after his fifth foul. “Of course it was a bit difficult. But it was important that the boys played without me once. That will help us at the World Cup,” said the Toronto Raptors point guard, who was the best thrower with 26 points. “We can also get into a situation at the World Cup where we have to play without Dennis. So today was a good exercise and a good experience overall,” said Herbert.
After two days off, the German team travels from Frankfurt am Main to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. There are two more friendlies against title candidates USA and Greece next weekend. Herbert then wants to take further steps with his team. “If we have to take ten steps, we are currently on level three or four,” said the national coach. “But I’m very happy with the way things are.”
The World Cup begins on August 25 in Okinawa with the clash against co-hosts Japan. Other preliminary round opponents are Finland and Australia. After bronze at the European Championships in Berlin last year, the German basketball players also want to win a medal at the World Cup in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
