by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Franz Wagner took some time to grasp the significance of his team's journey as they advanced to the FIBA Basketball World Cup semifinals.
"I wasn't aware of past records, but it feels fantastic," the 22-year-old remarked after Germany reached the tournament's final four for the first time since 2002.
Their victory over Latvia at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila not only meant facing off against tournament favorites like the United States but also secured Germany's qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
"We might be in a historic moment, but we're trying to stay cool as we want to continue our journey," stated the Orlando Magic small forward.
While Germany may assume the underdog role against the U.S., Berlin-born Wagner is convinced, saying, "We can beat everyone because our biggest advantage is that our entire team is on the same quality level."
Maintaining high concentration in a squad that embodies team spirit is the key to delivering another surprise in the 2022 EuroBasket bronze medal-winning team.
This wave of euphoria in Germany has left a lasting impact on the national side. National coach Gordon Herbert canceled the training session the day after their victory to allow his players to "get things sorted out" and fully grasp what "we have achieved." Rather than discussing the upcoming match against the U.S., Herbert emphasized the qualification for the Paris Olympics, calling it "one of the biggest achievements."
Herbert's strategy to downplay the growing pressure as they approach a medal seems effective. Wagner has developed strategies to defeat the U.S., emphasizing the importance of delivering solid basketball and acting as a team.
Despite a less-than-perfect performance, Germany narrowly defeated Latvia, boosting Wagner's optimism. He stressed the importance of building determination to survive tight games.
Increased knowledge about their opponents' strengths is boosting confidence, as several German players have NBA contracts. Wagner's return after missing four games due to an ankle injury fuels hopes of reaching the final. Herbert deems it vital for his team to have either Wagner or the team's undisputed leader, Dennis Schroder, on board.
While Schroder's performance was below his usual standards against Latvia, Wagner stepped in and lifted Germany's spirits. "That might be the key to success," Wagner remarked. "Everyone can step up, which keeps us consistently performing at a high level."
Currently, Germany relishes the "thrilling feeling" of making it to the last four, but they are fully aware of the great opportunity to achieve something even greater. ■
