Big shock of the evening, Slovenia and Germany had an appointment in Cologne for a duel which promised to be thrilling. At the end of a lively meeting and with a gala Luka Doncic, the reigning European champion takes control of Group B.
Meeting at the top on the evening menu with Germany, which intended to validate its faultless since the start of the competition (3-0), opposed to a team from Slovenia which surprised by stumbling against Bosnia in the previous match. In order to avoid scares in the standings, the outgoing champion had to react on the ground of the Mannschaft. Diligent and serious, Aleksander Sekulić’s men were quick to take control of the game behind an already everywhere Luka Doncic. It was said to be diminished by a painful wrist but the prodigy of Ljubljana is just too easy. Big drive, finish with the fault, shot out of balance, step back 3 on the face of his defender, the German defense is having a bad time. Opposite, the locals are struggling to be effective in attack. A little too focused on outside shooting (but clumsy) and without much originality, Franz Wagner’s teammates saved the day. As Slovenia dangerously begins to slip away, the German awakening finally arrives. With in particular two winning shots in a row from Dennis Schröder, the Germans stick an 8-0 which totally wakes up the room. At the break, everything remains playable (44-36)
Back from the locker room, the Germans prove that they are far from defeated. While the Slovenian attack coughs, the Schröder-Wagner-Thiemann trio allows the Mannschaft to return to only two units. As always, it’s Luka Doncic who is putting the house in order to give his friends some air before the start of money time. If the Germans have proven anything since the start of the competition, it’s that they have heart and resources. Schröder on alternating current, Wagner in the hard, it is the duo Lo-Obst which sounds the revolt. While Luka brings us a new nag money time to conclude his masterclass in style (36 points, 10 rebounds, 12/17 in shooting), the two German guards allow their country to keep hope. Thirty seconds from the end, Germany is only -5 and with the ball. Franz Wagner recovers two excellent spots to bring his people back to possession, an open three-point shot and a circle attack, but he fails each time… Slovenia recovers the ball, Schröder loses his nerves stupidly and is ejected. The Slovenians just have to finish the job on the line. Final score: 88-80.
In the lead throughout the match and carried by a great Luka Doncic, Slovenia resisted Germany’s comeback and at the same time offered themselves the head of Group B. Next meeting for Luka Doncic and his gang: tomorrow against… the French team! We are already looking forward to it!
