For the first time in 20 years, Germany is back in the final of a European Championship. The minimum goal has been achieved, but the focus is already on Sunday.
“I am very proud of the team, we have achieved our minimum goal – a medal,” Daniel Theis told MagentaSport immediately after the 98-86 victory over Finland, who put up a much better fight in the second match within nine days than they did in Tampere.
Even Theis had to acknowledge that. “It was a tough game against Finland, our focus today was on rebounds. That allows us to run and play fast breaks, which makes us strong.” In the preliminary round, the Finns, who had eliminated Serbia in the round of 16, grabbed 24 offensive rebounds, but this time they only managed eleven (GER: 10). Theis played a big part in that with ten points and eleven rebounds.
DBB team: Fourth European Championship medal already secured
Coach Alan Ibrahimagic also expressed his respect for the brave Finns: “Today, we had to stay focused the whole time to win against an opponent who wouldn’t let up and whom I have the utmost respect for.” The coach added that although there was reason to celebrate, preparations for the final would begin soon. Their opponent there will be Turkey.
This is the DBB’s third appearance in a European Championship final. In 1993, Germany surprisingly won the European Championship in Munich under national coach Svetislav Pesic, and twelve years later, the DBB team led by MVP Dirk Nowitzki lost to Greece in Belgrade. Three years ago in Berlin, Dennis Schröder and his teammates won the bronze medal.
