Basketball: WM-Quali: Top without the stars – Basketballer beat Serbia

Even without their stars, the German basketball players have set an exclamation point for the 2019 World Cup in China and have consolidated their lead in Group G. The team of national coach Henrik Rödl won against the group favourite Serbia on Friday evening in Frankfurt after a tough performance with 79:74 (40:41) and celebrated their third victory in the third game.

“Respect for my crew. That was a great team effort,”said Rödl at Telekom Sport:”This is an important victory that we have to confirm on Sunday. Captain Robin Benzing added:” We are strong. We must be aware that we can beat an opponent like Serbia.”

Best caster of the DBB selection were Benzing (17 points) and Isaiah Hartenstein (11). Rödl’s record thus remains flawless even after the most difficult test to date. The 48-year-old had taken over the team at the beginning of the World Cup qualification. Among the Serbs, coached by Sasa Djordjevic from Bavaria, Miroslav Raduljica (22) stood out.

Against Serbia, which had finished runners-up at the last three major tournaments – European Championships, Olympic Games and World Cups – Germany missed the NBA players Dennis Schröder (Atlanta Hawks), Daniel Theis (Boston Celtics), Paul Zipser (Chicago Bulls) and Maximilian Kleber (Dallas Mavericks). The EuroLeague pros were also absent. Nevertheless, Germany convinced with a strong team performance and fought their way into the match after a weak start.

Nevertheless, there is not much time left to enjoy the success against the runner-up world champion. Already on Sunday (16.00 hrs/Telekom Sport) we continue in Tbilisi against Georgia. Germany had won the first leg against Georgia 79:70 and are first in three games ahead of Serbia. Georgia are third in third place ahead of Austria, the only team without a point.

Germany was initially nervous about the Serbs. The team, which consisted mainly of second-row players, started weakly and was soon trailing eleven points. Rödl reacted and swore to his team. And the measures taken by the federal coach were successful. Germany fought their way back into the game and took the lead for the first time at the beginning of the second quarter (31:30).

With the vocal audience in Frankfurt at the back, DBB’s selection also remains biting and always attentive. The defensive forces again and again ball losses and changed quickly. In the end, however, Germany also benefited from the numerous mistakes made by the Serbs, who showed some nerves of nerves especially from the free-throw line. The Germans were completely different: Ismet Akpinar made the decision with two free-throwers in the final minute.