Germany, France, and Canada Secure Knockout Stage Spots; Team USA Eyes Place
Germany, France, and Canada Secure Knockout Stage Spots; Team USA Eyes Place
Germany, France, and Canada have clinched their spots in the knockout stage, leaving Team USA with a chance to join them by winning against South Sudan on Wednesday. The tournament format allows the top two teams from each group, along with the top two finishers in third place, to advance.
Germany's Dominant Performance
Germany secured their place in the quarterfinals following an impressive 86-73 victory over Brazil. The charge was led by Dennis Schroder, who contributed 20 points and dished out six assists. Schroder's leadership on the court proved crucial as Germany navigated through a tough Brazilian side to seal the win.
French Resilience in Overtime Thriller
In an intense overtime match, France edged out Japan, showcasing resilience and determination. Victor Wembanyama was the standout performer, scoring eight of his 18 points during the overtime period. The narrative of the game was defined by Matthew Strazel's dramatic four-point play with just 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, forcing the game into overtime. Despite Yuki Kawamura's game-high 29 points for Japan and Rui Hachimura's efficient 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting in 28 minutes—before his ejection—the French team held its ground.
Nicolas Batum, reflecting on the dramatic turn of events, said, "We could've easily given up down four with 10 seconds. We had no solution, and we got a crazy shot from Matthew." He added, "Sometimes, God is on your side."
Josh Hawkinson, acknowledging the fierce competition, commented, "We can fight with any team... To be able to fight until the very end against one of the top teams in the world, that's definitely steps in the right direction for us. No moral victories. We wanted to win."
Canada's Strong Showing Against Australia
Canada emerged victorious against Australia with a convincing 93-83 win. Leading the scoring for Canada was RJ Barrett, who notched 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting within 25 minutes. This victory solidified Canada's position in the knockout stages while Australia, despite the loss, remains in second place in Group A.
Jordi Fernandez praised Barrett's performance, stating, "He's that guy. Sometimes, I don't call plays for him and he just scores. That's what he does. Probably, I should be better and call more plays for him, but he finds a way."
Spain's Win Over Greece
Spain outpaced Greece with an 84-77 win, marking another highlight in the tournament. Giannis Antetokounmpo put in a stellar performance for Greece, netting 27 points along with 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. However, it wasn't enough to overcome Spain's balanced attack.
Sergio Scariolo, discussing the strategic elements of the game, revealed, "We thought we'd keep it for the very end of the game... Actually, with Luis Gil, our defensive coordinator, we've been talking a lot about doing it at some point, but we decided to keep it for the very end, because I wanted to keep Willy on the floor, his pick-and-roll with Lorenzo [Brown] is a big weapon for us."
Challenging Moments and Reflections
Various teams reflected on the challenges faced during these crucial games. Brian Goorjian highlighted the physical toll taken by the opposing team's defensive pressure, saying, "The concern coming into the game was their pressure and how we handle their pressure. Even though we had depth in those spots, they wore us down physically, and we really had trouble getting into anything in the second half."
Meanwhile, Dario Brizuela acknowledged a standout performance within his team, noting, "He’s our best player, and he knows it. He played an amazing game, and we’re happy for him."
As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on Team USA as they prepare for a decisive game against South Sudan. A win will secure their place in the next stage, joining Germany, France, and Canada in the pursuit of championship glory.
