Germany cruises past Finland, Franz Wagner powers unbeaten run

Sep 3, 2025 8:42 PM

Germany once again underlined their credentials at EuroBasket 2025, dismantling hosts Finland with a convincing 91-61 victory in front of a sold-out crowd of 12,900 fans at Tampere Deck Arena.

The win secured Germany’s perfect 5-0 record in Group B, as they completed group play without blemish. Although they narrowly missed the chance to become the first team in EuroBasket history to score 100 or more points in five straight games at a single tournament, their dominance was never in doubt.

Germany set the tone from the opening tip and never looked back. Finland, urged on by a passionate home crowd, tried to keep pace, but the Germans pulled away late in the second quarter with a 29-17 run that put them up 50-36 at halftime.

Any hope of a comeback quickly faded after the break, as Franz Wagner threw down a two-handed dunk on the very first play of the third quarter, a moment that epitomized Germany’s control. From there, Gordon Herbert’s side closed the game with authority, finishing group play unscathed.

Wagner was once again the standout, delivering a near-flawless performance with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 20 minutes. Dennis Schroder, the veteran leader, added 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists in a display of his all-around impact.

Finland’s Olivier Nkamhoua fought valiantly, notching a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t nearly enough to slow down the German machine.

The numbers told the story. Germany shot a blistering 57 percent from the field in the first half, while Finland managed just 37 percent.

And with history on their side – undefeated in 25 EuroBasket games when leading by double digits at halftime – there was never much doubt about the outcome. Finland’s closest push in the second half brought them within 13 points, but Germany quickly widened the gap.

Both teams had already booked their spots in the Round of 16 in Riga before tip-off. Germany’s win cemented them as group winners, a statement to the rest of the field, while Finland settled for third place in Group B.

Franz Wagner reflected on the team’s progress after the game, saying, “We came here with the goal to improve every game, and I think we’ve done that. The energy from the fans was amazing, but we stayed focused and played our game.”

Schroder echoed that sentiment, adding, “This is just the first step. We’re not satisfied yet – we want to go all the way.”

Meanwhile, Finland head coach Lassi Tuovi acknowledged the challenge of facing one of Europe’s best.

“Germany are one of the strongest teams in this tournament. We fought, but in the second half their quality was just too much. Still, I’m proud of how our guys competed in front of our fans,” Tuovi said.