The German basketball fairytale continues

What a great tournament this EURO Basket 2022 is. Of course, it’s easy to say that when the German basketball players are rushing through this European Championship in fantastic style. However, there are also many other teams that are performing outstandingly. In addition, there is a terrific atmosphere in the halls. The semi-final on Friday between Germany and Spain is just the icing on the cake for the time being.

Since the 2005 European Championship in Serbia and Montenegro, no German basketball team has made it to the semi-finals of a EURO. Back then, Dirk Nowitzki was still on board. His jersey is now hanging under the roof of the hall and his number is retired. It’s time for new heroes and new legends and this German team has what it takes to perhaps even win its second European Championship title after 1993, which was also in front of its own crowd.

But despite all the euphoria, it should be clear that this semi-final alone will be a tough task. The Spaniards are not only the reigning world champions, but have also won a medal at the last six European Championships, three of them in gold.

That’s because Gordon Herbert’s team are hurtling through this tournament in outstanding fashion and have proved on several occasions that they are not afraid of big names. The world champions could be the next notch on Germany’s European Championship woodwork on Friday. We are definitely leaning towards placing a tip between Germany and Spain on the DBB giants reaching the final.

Germany – Statistics & current form

Sure, the German team competed at this EURO Basket to go far. In the meantime, this team has grown more and more together and after victories over France, Lithuania and Greece, all teams that are among the strongest on the continent, the belief in the title is there. The German basketball players are greedy for the second European Championship gold in the association’s history. And perhaps the best German team of all time is currently on the floor.

Best German team of all time?

Even before the European Championship, the German team’s ambitions had been hinted at with their victory in the World Cup qualifier against European champions Slovenia. In the meantime, the numbers suggest that the semi-finals are not necessarily the end of the road. Gordon Herbert’s team has a 6:1 record at the European Championship. In total, they have won 16 of their last 18 games. That is a more than impressive record.

The highlight of a sensational European Championship so far was the quarter-final against the top favourites from Greece. The spectacle already began in the first quarter, when the DBB team scored from all angles. But because Giannis Antetokounmpo could not be eliminated, the previously unbeaten Greeks went into the dressing room with a lead. After the change, however, Germany went on a 20:1 run and thus laid the foundation for the 107:96 victory and entry into the semi-finals.

No German player can be singled out. Every member of the team outgrew himself – whether it was Dennis Schröder with 26 points, Daniel Theis with a double-double, Franz Wagner, Andreas Obst or anyone else. Every German player is going to the limit at this European Championship and in this condition you have to look at the odds for another German victory before this semifinal between Germany and Spain.

Predicted line-up of Germany:
Lo, Giffey, Weiler-Babb, Voigtmann, F. Wagner, Theis, Schröder, Wohlfahrt-Bottermann, Hollatz, Thiemann, Obst, Sengfelder – Coach: Herbert

Spain – Statistics & current form

The Spaniards certainly no longer have that depth in the squad that distinguished them for many years. After the international career end of the Gasol brothers, the responsibility is now spread over several shoulders for the world champions. That may make them a little unpredictable, but in terms of quality, Sergio Scariolo’s team is now missing a whole corner.

Eleven in a row in the European Championship semi-finals

That hasn’t stopped the Spaniards from also racking up a record of 6:1 victories up to this point. However, it has to be said that the opponents were not quite as strong as those of the German team. It was already really close against Turkey in the group phase and in the round of 16 against Lithuania, the world champions had to go into overtime.

Even in the quarter-finals, the outsiders from Finland had the Iberians on the brink of defeat for a long time. The Spaniards were already 15 points behind. In crunch time, it was the Hernangomez brothers and veteran Rudy Fernandez who pulled the coals out of the fire and pulled away point by point in the final phase to seal the 100-90 victory.

This is the eleventh time in a row that the Spanish have reached the semi-finals of a European Championship. Some of the teams in this tournament were considered to be stronger, including Serbia and Greece, who have already been eliminated. The Iberians have to be prepared for anything, but there is more to suggest that in the semi-final between Germany and Spain, the prediction could fit a success for the hosts.

Predicted line-up of Spain:
Brown, Pradilla, R. Fernandez, Lopez-Arostegui, J. Fernandez, Brizuela, Diaz, Saiz, W. Hernangomez, Garuba, J. Hernangomez, Parra – Coach: Scariolo

Germany – Spain Direct Comparison / H2H-Balance

The Spanish team is not exactly one of the favourite opponents of the German basketball players. In total, the two nations have faced each other 31 times. In the direct comparison, the Spaniards have an overwhelming lead with 27:4 victories. The last German victory came in the semi-finals of the EURO 2005 in Serbia and Montenegro, when the DBB giants around Dirk Nowitzki won 74-73.

Since then, Germany has lost the last nine international matches against the Iberians. The last encounter was five years ago at the EURO Basket 2017 in Turkey. In the quarter-finals, the Spaniards won 84:72 and took the European bronze medal. At that time, however, seven of the twelve Spaniards also earned their money in the NBA. Marc Gasol was the match-winner for Sergio Scariolo’s team with 28 points.

Germany – Spain Tip

It may indeed be the case that Germany has its best basketball team ever at the tournament. If you want to win against the world champions, you have to have an outstanding team. Gordon Herbert’s team has outstanding individual qualities and also works incredibly well as a team at this EURO Basket.

17 victories in the last 19 international games are a statistic that has earned them respect from their opponents. At the European Championship, both semi-finalists have a record of 6:1 victories. On balance, however, the German team looked more confident and, above all, more determined.

If the German team in Berlin is just about able to keep up the performance from the Greece game, then perhaps an unchallenged victory could result in the end. The key should be a strong defence and the German team can’t complain about that. That’s why we even decided to play the betting odds on a handicap win (-3.5) for Gordon Herbert’s team between Germany and Spain.