MANILA (Philippines) – There are matches that will forever mark the spirits and the list of superlatives to describe Germany’s triumph against the USA (113-111) in the semi-finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is long.
This match may have simply been the best in FIBA Basketball World Cup history.
“We beat one of the best teams in the world. The fight was incredibly intense. I love these kinds of matches, the satisfaction is all the greater at the end. You dream of it, it’s what you aspire to. You want to play in the biggest tournaments and there is no bigger tournament than this.”notes German insider Johannes Thiemann.
Franz Wagner wore a big smile at the post-match press conference.
“I’m super happy, the feeling when the siren sounded was incredible. It’s a very special moment for us, I don’t really know what to say”adds Wagner.
Andreas Obst, TCL Player of the Game, commente : “I have no words to express my feeling about what we achieved today. This evening is just phenomenal for basketball, and for German basketball naturally. It was a difficult match but this success means a lot to this group of players. We fought from start to finish and we are very happy to be in the final. »
Basketball fans are sure to be talking about it for a long time to come – a game that set numerous records, featured fantastic performances and delivered a suspenseful finale.
A clash between two teams who defended very hard, but who attacked even harder. This match was epic, fabulous, exciting. In short, a gift for the basketball world.
Beyond the records, this meeting allowed us to witness tremendous individual and collective performances.
Six Germans reached the 10-point mark, Andreas Obst being the best of them with 24 points – including 4 incredible three-pointers – while Franz Wagner scored 22 points and Daniel Theis 21 points in addition to having was impressive on defense.
Germany executed its tactical schemes to perfection, enough to take good shots (58% success in total, 68% from two points). She only lost 10 balls – only 4 in the 2nd half as the American defense increased its intensity.
If a person who did not watch the match sees the total of 224 points scored, their first reaction will be to imagine that the teams defended poorly – or not at all. But that’s not true at all, it’s just that they excelled in attack.
In less than 24 minutes, Germany reached the symbolic bar of +100 in the evaluations, but the Americans did not give up. They pushed to come back and came close to taking control of the match at the very end of the game.
The USA was also formidable on offense – 58% shooting, 65% from two points. Anthony Edwards was adept at 2 points (8 of 9) and he finished the game with 23 points, compared to 21 points for his teammate Austin Reaves.
Here is a quick overview of the records set during this match:
– This is the first time that two teams have scored more than 100 points in a FIBA Basketball World Cup knockout match.
– Record points conceded by the USA in the FIBA World Cup: 113
– The 113 points scored by Germany are a new record for points scored in a FIBA World Cup semi-final.
– Record for points scored in the first half of a FIBA World Cup semi-final: 119 points
– This is the first time that both teams have scored more than 50 points in a FIBA Basketball World Cup semi-final.
And those who were almost beaten:
– With a total of 224 points, this is the highest points total in the FIBA Basketball World Cup since the 228 points in the match between the USA and Russia in 1994 (137-91).
– The 119 points scored by the two teams is the best first-half total since New Zealand and Germany faced off at the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup, when both teams scored 122 points in the match for 3rd place.
What other FIBA matches can claim the title of best of all time?
– Final of the 2008 Olympic Games between Spain and the USA, won by the USA (117-108)?
– Final of the 2012 Olympic Games between Spain and the USA, won by the USA (107-100)?
– FIBA EuroBasket 1995 final between Lithuania and Yugoslavia, won by Yugoslavia (96-90)?
Do not hesitate to visit the FIBA social networks to give us your opinion!
FIBA
2023-09-09 16:39:50
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