Germany Battles Through to Reach Quarter-finals in Portugal's Tournament Struggle - Germany advances to the quarterfinals
After a challenging three quarters, the World Cup champions, Germany, managed to secure a victory against Portugal with a score of 85:58. This hard-fought win sets Germany up for a quarterfinal match against either Italy or Slovenia on Wednesday.
In the game against Portugal, Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner were the top scorers for Germany, both contributing 16 points each. However, the team's top form from Tampere was not immediately apparent, as they started sloppily and found themselves quickly down 2:7 in the opening minutes.
Coach Alex Mumbru, who returned to the sidelines for the first time during the EM after missing the group stage due to an abdominal illness, appeared recovered and drew the first play on his tactics board before the game. Mumbru took a more active role and led the team's practice in Riga before the Portugal game.
Despite initial struggles to gel, Germany's significantly higher quality prevailed in the final ten minutes. Maodo Lo sank the second German three-pointer late in the third quarter, but Germany led by just a single point (52:51) heading into the final period. The game remained a tough battle in the final ten minutes, with both teams fighting for every point.
Coach Alan Ibrahimagic also saw a challenging game against Portugal. He stated that they missed many good shots and became nervous, causing tension during the game. Captain Dennis Schröder rallied the team on the court and delivered a brief message to the team to keep their focus and persevere.
Italy and Slovenia will face off in the upcoming match, with Slovenia featuring NBA superstar Luka Doncic. The winner of that game will advance to face Germany in the quarterfinals.
Mumbru sat more often than usual but also stood at the sideline to give instructions during the game. The assistant coach who stood for the first time alongside Alan Ibrahimagic on the bench of the German team at the EuroBasket 2022 was not explicitly named in the provided search results.
The win against Portugal was a tough battle for the World Cup champions, but their determination and resilience shone through in the final minutes of the game. With their sights set on the quarterfinals, Germany is ready to continue their EuroBasket journey.
