National team before the Olympics - "Learned a lot": the basketball team's construction sites are getting smaller
On the charter flight from Montpellier back to the German homeland, Dennis Schröder and his teammates took a short break. After the shocking 24-point loss against France in the opening game, the Basketball World Champions quickly bounced back and three weeks before the Olympics started, they proved their medal worth.
Wembanyama not present
"We learned a lot from that game in Cologne. You learn more from losing than from winning. The win is good for morale and for the team spirit," said national coach Gordon Herbert about the 70:65 in the return match, which was played without the sickness-stricken top talent Victor Wembanyama. In front of home crowds, Herbert's team had no chance against France with Wembanyama present.
Fifty-three hours after the heavy defeat, the construction sites before the next big summer were becoming less visible.
Franz and Moritz Wagner have signed their contracts with the Orlando Magic and were already in Montpellier. Routine player Daniel Theis, who was reportedly close to a one-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, was about to take this step, so that the World Championship core could be together at least by this Saturday (8:30 pm) against the Netherlands in Hamburg.
No celebrations
"Let's go, now we can work," wrote captain Schröder on Instagram about the news from his teammate Theis, who had missed both France tests. Theis and the injured Johannes Thiemann could then disrupt a team that held their own very well against Olympic host France and earned their first victory in preparation.
All celebrations remained out, the team returned to the hotel only after the late game start well past midnight.
France with home advantage and the 2.23-meter giant Wembanyama, the USA with a superstar team around LeBron James and Stephen Curry: It's already clear that the Olympic test will be even harder than the WM summer, which ended unexpectedly with the triumph in Manila.
"We are very, very motivated in training sessions. August 10th is the goal for all of us," said Schröder in the podcast "Lauschangriff". On this day, the Olympic final takes place in the Accor Arena in Paris.
Aiming for silver would be "a weakness"
To freeze in awe of James and Curry and aim for silver? That's not an option for the 30-year-old playmaker. "They are the twelve best players in the world. It's the biggest tournament in the world. Of course, we would write history with every medal. But everyone should strive for gold, otherwise it shows weakness," said Schröder.
In an ideal world, the repeat of the Manila coup would succeed, as Schröder and Co. narrowly defeated a significantly younger US team in the halves.
Before the direct duel as an Olympic warm-up on July 22 in London, the US stars will first play their muscles in the camp in Las Vegas.
On Wednesday evening (local time), it goes against the strong Canadians. Although James, Curry, NBA champion Jayson Tatum, and Kevin Durant join the team with several high-caliber players, a 22-year-old wing player is the face of this team: Anthony Edwards.
"I'm still number one. You might look at this differently, but I don't," said Edwards. "They have to adapt to play around me. That's how I feel," announced the star player of the Minnesota Timberwolves with great self-confidence. Edwards was already part of the US team that missed a medal in Asia at the WM 2023.
- Despite the absence of Victor Wembanyama due to illness, Moritz Wagner's German national team managed to bounce back after their 24-point loss to France, proving their medal worth.
- Dennis Schröder and his teammates, including Franz Wagner, were on a charter flight back to Germany, preparing for their next games.
- Daniel Theis, reported to be close to signing a one-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, could potentially join the team before their game against the Netherlands in Hamburg.
- After suffering a heavy defeat, the construction sites before the next summer games were becoming less visible, with the team focusing on improving and preparing.
- Wembanyama's absence was felt during the return match against France, with the German team having no chance against them in front of home crowds.
- Schröder and his teammates were already in Montpellier, training hard and preparing for the upcoming Olympic games in Paris.
- The Olympic test would be even harder than the WM summer, with teams like France and the USA, led by superstars LeBron James and Stephen Curry, participating.
- Schröder expressed his team's motivation, stating that August 10th was their goal, as it's the day of the Olympic final.
- Aiming for silver would be a weakness, according to Schröder, as everyone should strive for gold in the biggest tournament in the world.
- In an ideal world, Schröder and his team would repeat their Manila coup, narrowly defeating the US team.
- Before the direct duel as an Olympic warm-up on July 22 in London, the USA stars would first play their muscles in the camp in Las Vegas, with Anthony Edwards leading the team.
