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Dennis Schröder (r.) didn't succeed in everything, but it was enough to win against France around Andrew Albicy
Photo:
Federico Gambarini / dpa
The German basketball players made a successful start to the European Championship.
The team around captain Dennis Schröder defeated France in Cologne with 76:63 (39:30).
Johannes Thiemann was the best thrower for the Germans, who were particularly vigilant on the defensive
with 14 points.
On the side of the favored French, Guerschon Yabusele collected the most points with 18 points.
The start of the game was delayed because Germany's best basketball player in history was honored first: Dirk Nowitzki.
A jersey with his number 14 was pulled under the roof of the Cologne hall and will no longer be awarded in the future.
The players from Germany and France seemed a little intimidated by so much symbolism - at least not much was going on for either side at the beginning.
Dennis Schröder scored the first points for Germany after almost four minutes from the free-throw line.
France initially pulled away a bit, but Germany stayed close and took the lead for the first time with about two minutes remaining in the first quarter – 12:10.
After that, the DBB selection arrived in the tournament.
Nils Giffey converted a pass from Maodo Lô from beyond the three-point line and France called their first time-out.
Germany also showed a defensively stable performance afterwards.
And even if not everything worked out offensively, the first quarter ended with a 17:13 lead from a German perspective against the unusually slow-playing French.
The second quarter began with a converted three-point shot by Lô.
The build-up player was then replaced again by regular starter Schröder, who then made two explosive moves to the basket in the middle of the second quarter and meanwhile put his team in the lead by 29:20.
France's coach Vincent Collet reacted to the surprisingly aggressive defending German basketball players, switched and also relied on a smaller line-up without NBA center Rudy Gobert.
After that, Germany's offensive game faltered a bit, also because NBA newcomer Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) didn't really get into the game and committed two quick fouls.
France – now with Gobert again – fought their way up little by little, thanks largely to a strong Guerschon Yabusele.
France comes out of the break better
Germany was then better in the game again.
Giffey scored before Nick Weiler-Babb, who was naturalized before the European Championships, threw in the direction of the basket from far away – and scored.
It was 38:31 at half-time.
"We defended very well, but also allowed a few things," said Johannes Thiemann during the break at Magenta Sport.
The second half started a little like the first.
The French started better, after a three by Yabusele France was up to 36:38.
Shortly thereafter, Yabusele first blocked a lay-up attempt by Wagner before putting France in the lead from a distance.
39:38 after less than four minutes in the third quarter.
DBB coach Gordon Herbert took a break and stopped France's run before Thiemann put Germany back in front with two successful shots.
However, the German players could not break away, also because Dennis Schröder's throw did not want to fall.
Germany breaks away
Only a three-pointer from Lô just under three minutes before the end of the third period gave Germany some breathing space, shortly afterwards Schröder followed up: 48:40 for Germany.
Despite a time-out for France, Germany kept the pressure, suddenly everything seemed to work out, after a three by Giffey it went 57:43 into the last quarter.
Germany had really set itself apart for the first time.
France then tried a few more, but didn't come much closer because Germany kept finding ways to the basket on the offensive.
In the end, it was above all the strong team effort that brought the Germans victory.
In the other top game of Group B, Slovenia defeated Lithuania 92:85 in the afternoon.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also beat Hungary 95-85.
Germany's next game is against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday.
kyo