Basketball EM: Germany vs. Slovenia in the live ticker – Next Wagner Festival after Nowitzki-Lob?

Created: 06/09/2022, 18:32

By: Christoph Klaucke

Franz Wagner wants to lead Germany to victory in the European Basketball Championship against Slovenia.

© Federico Gambarini/dpa

Germany meets defending champion Slovenia at the European Basketball Championship.

The DBB team is fighting for group victory.

We accompany the top game in the live ticker.

• Basketball European Championship

  :

  Germany

  vs.

  Slovenia

  , Tuesday, 8:30 p.m

• DBB team

  fights for

  group

  victory: duel against

  Slovenia

  crucial

• Franz Wagner

  is

  Germany's EM hero

  : NBA rookie even

  ennobled by

  Dirk Nowitzki

• This

  live ticker

  is continuously updated

Cologne – Germany is already in the round of 16 at the European Basketball Championship.

The fourth game in the hammer group B against defending champion and top favorite Slovenia could nevertheless point the way for the further course of the tournament.

For the DBB team it is about winning the group.

DBB team fights for group victory: duel against Slovenia crucial

After the double overtime against Lithuania (109:107), the German national basketball team more than deserved the rest day at the European Championships on Monday.

But already on Tuesday evening the next hard chunk awaits with Slovenia around NBA superstar Luka Doncic.

On Wednesday they will face Hungary in Cologne before the DBB team moves on to Berlin for the round of 16 on Saturday.

After the emotional victory against the Lithuanians, Franz Wagner in particular was on everyone's lips.

Memories of none other than Dirk Nowitzki, whose jersey is no longer awarded in the national team, immediately came to mind.

“He's only 21. He shoots very well for a big boy.

He can read the game.

He's faster than he looks," said Nowitzki himself at a press conference on Monday evening and made it clear: "We'll still have a lot of fun with him."

Franz Wagner is Germany's EM hero: NBA rookie even ennobled by Dirk Nowitzki

Germany's basketball icon isn't the only admirer of Wagner.

"The guy is mentally ill," marveled teammate Johannes Thiemann, and captain Dennis Schröder prophesied: "If he keeps going like this, he'll be a great one!" , who have remained unsatisfied since Nowitzki’s departure from the national team in 2015.

Now, after an outstanding 32 points against the Balts, it not only seems as if the only 21-year-old could lead the Germans to the hoped-for medal at the European Championships.

The shooting star of the Orlando Magic from the NBA, that is clear at the latest after the 109:107 victory after double overtime against the Lithuanians in Cologne, could shape an entire era.

Basketball EM: Germany vs. Slovenia in the live ticker – next Wagner Festival?

And Wagner himself?

The giant of 2.08 meters was as reserved as a Nowitzki would have done.

"It's best," says Wagner, "if you play with instinct and don't think too much.

Then everything goes easier.” Impressively unimpressed for a 2001 year of construction, which in its eighth (!) international match not only set up a top score in national kit.

The forward hit four of his seven threes – sometimes in absolutely critical situations.

"Franz is incredible," said guard Maodo Lo.

But the Wagner Festival is by no means a surprise.

After being picked eighth in the 2021 NBA draft by the Magic, Nowitzki was once the ninth pick, the youngster delivered immediately.

In his rookie year, he scored an average of 15.2 points alongside his brother Moritz, who was injured at the European Championships.

Schröder already said in May: "He will help us enormously - we have never had such a two or three in the German national team."