Latvia faced a tough challenge against Germany in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, with both teams putting up a fierce battle.
Despite some ups and downs, Germany managed to secure an 81-79 victory, earning them a spot in the Semi-Finals in Manila. The game was closely contested, featuring seven ties and 15 lead changes, making it an exciting matchup.
Coach Luca Banchi’s decision to assign the taller Rodions Kurucs to defend against Dennis Schroder proved effective, as the German superstar struggled with his shooting, managing to make only 4 of 26 attempts. This performance tied a World Cup record for the most missed shots, previously held by Kirk Penney in 2002.
Latvia’s Arturs Zagars delivered an impressive performance, contributing 24 points, including some exceptional left-handed finishes in traffic. With just over 30 seconds left, the score was 81-79, and it appeared that a comeback victory was within reach.
In a crucial moment, Dennis Schroder missed a floater, and during the ensuing transition, Davis Bertans attempted a game-winning three-pointer. Unfortunately, the shot bounced off the rim and went out of bounds as time expired, securing Germany’s narrow victory.
Now, Latvia will regroup and prepare for the Classification Games 5-8, aiming to finish the tournament on a positive note. Despite the outcome, both teams displayed resilience and determination on the international stage.
“Of course, there is a big disappointment right now, but we don’t have to miss the wider vision of our path, what we did, what our achievement was on the court, the style we played, the identity we showed everybody,” said Luca Banchi, Latvia head coach.
“We moved from Jakarta to Manila to sit at the same table with the other seven best teams in the world. They looked so big. So strong. So powerful. We showed one more time that we are able to compete and that makes me very proud.”
Watch the game highlights between Germany and Latvia in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
