Germany in the European Basketball Championship – Angered by courageous dribbling Vikings – Süddeutsche.de

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• Germany wins for Aufktakt the European Basketball Championship in Berlin with 71:65 against Iceland.
• The shaky Victory is little information about the performance of the DBB team -. despite isolated bright spots of NBA professionals Nowitzki and Schröder
• The violation of Robin Benzing hurts additionally

Jonas Beckenkamp , Berlin

Icelandic fans will find cheap beer

Among the many unanswered questions at the beginning of this basketball-EM is allowed after all, an answer the same. Full Iceland was then not come to Berlin to watch the opening match against the German national team. Dirk Nowitzki’s facetious prophecy of a migration of the northern Europeans fulfilled only conditionally: In the packed hall at Ostbahnhof several hundred blaugewandete Icelanders were happy about the first European Championships in their country – and the cheap beer in Germany

. Iceland and basketball, because the majority of the 12 500 visitors had to get used to. And actually turned the opponent this Saturday at 71:65 (41:26) a mightier obstacle than many had thought. The supposedly easiest opponent in the preliminary round Group B angered the Germans to just before the end with wuseligem team basketball and plenty of outsiders heart. “They played unorthodox, because we were doing us hard. Good thing we brought the victory despite some problems back home,” Nowitzki said, without the 15 points it would have gone wrong.

EM-opener against Iceland Schroeder leads DBB team to a tight victory

Thanks Dennis Schröder and Dirk Nowitzki, the German basketball players won their first European Championship group match against Iceland 71:65. After the injury-related substitution of Robin Benzing the outsider comes dangerously close zoom.

Because the second German NBA professional Dennis Schröder on the offensive an ordinary day caught (15 points, four assists), the selection of national coach Chris Fleming worse spared. Nevertheless complete satisfaction beamed none of the German Basketball Federation (DBB), it offered the afternoon to major complications. After a 18-point lead in the first half mainly the lecture threw in the last quarter to questions. Winger Anton Gavel made as an explanation “bad decisions on offense” from even the back you have “too much admitted, especially in distance litters”.

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In Benzing sweat mingle tears

But it was not only the many results of the Icelanders who could be a thriller, the game, but also a moment that made in the hall for brief silence. Robin Benzing was bent over in the final quarter with a litter trial and limped painfully from the floor. In his drops of sweat mingled even a few tears. Exact diagnoses were initially unavailable – that plagued by outages German team has to complain the next patient, but is certainly

Happened the accident was in a phase when the DBB men wobbled anyway, as Islands. dribbling Vikings came up and the game entered its decisive phase. “Robins injury has given us a stitch offset” lamented Niels Giffey, “after that we pretty much subsided.” For a really superior run game as was a performance that did not offer an answer to the crucial question of these days again: How good are the Germans after a streaky preparation plan, now that it matters

German squad at the European Basketball Championship Dirk and the Daredevil

Dirk Nowitzki and Dennis Schröder leading the German basketball players at the European Championships – but who are the others in the squad? Twelve short portraits with analyzes of ex-national coach Dirk Bauermann. graphics

It stayed with small hints: Nowitzki struggled into it with all the investment in this tournament – the Würzburg met some litters that only he can give. And Schröder proved that he is simply too quick for many defenders of the planet. Therefore Coach Chris Fleming highlighted the positives out, even if not everything looked “beautiful”, he said. “We should not exaggerate how bad everything today. In the first half, has been with us today much in tune.” The learning process of his team thus continues during the tournament. To this way also sagging, “we need such experiences” include in his view, as the national coach.

Positive values ​​also can be the fact that Flemings veterans retained control in difficult moments. Forward Alex King clawed crucial rebounds and jumped a few baskets with, Gavel blocked Islands gefährlichstem actor Jon Stefansson (23 points) a few times vehemently the way, and Heiko Schaffartzik conducted the attack with clever passing game (five assists). “It’s no surprise that it was not perfect,” said Fleming, “but we are glad that we have mastered this game.” The 45-year-old seemed to be aware that he should save more in-depth critique prefer. His team has enough to do in the coming days as well as with himself and other challenges.

That is now with Serbia, Turkey, Italy and Spain awaits the gathered elite of European basketball, the feel-good factor detracts addition. Seventh place, it should be so at least at these championships to get the chance to win an Olympic qualification in the coming year to earn. With this goal in mind, the preparation for the duel with the Serbs launched on Sunday (15 clock, live ticker SZ.de) even on Saturday night. “This is a completely different game,” Fleming said, smiling. He embarks on the search. According to the findings regarding the level of his team.