Germany Secures EuroBasket Qualification with Dominant Montenegrin Victory
Germany’s basketball team has all but guaranteed its qualification for the upcoming EuroBasket tournament with a convincing 95-76 victory over Montenegro in Podgorica. Despite theoretical possibilities of alternative outcomes, the team led by head coach Alex Mumbru is virtually assured of participation in the tournament scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 14 in Latvia, Finland, Poland, and Cyprus.
Impressive Performance in Podgorica
After the resounding victory in Montenegro, Mumbru expressed his satisfaction at the team’s performance, particularly in the first half. "This was an important game for us. We played great, especially in the first half," he said at the post-game press conference. With the addition of former NBA star Daniel Theis, the team is aiming for another victory against Bulgaria on Sunday in Bamberg, which would secure their group win.
Qualification Clinched, Bamberg Match Serves as Group Decider
While the Bamberg match against Bulgaria is no longer essential for qualification, a German victory would cement their position as group winners. Other scenarios that would guarantee qualification include a Montenegrin win over Sweden or a German loss by 67 points or less.
Possible Qualification Paths
Germany (three wins, +56 points) can secure its ticket to EuroBasket under the following conditions:
- A German victory against Bulgaria
- A Montenegrin victory against Sweden
- Any German defeat by up to 67 points
- A German defeat by 68 points or more, provided either Sweden or Montenegro has a worse basket ratio than Germany
Group Standing
In Group F, Germany leads with three wins and a +56 point differential, followed by Montenegro (three wins, +9), Sweden (two wins, -33), and Bulgaria (two wins, -32).
Theis Bolsters German Hopes
The imminent return of Theis, who played for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA last season, has further boosted Germany’s EuroBasket prospects. The 30-year-old center brings a wealth of experience and quality to the team, having previously represented Germany at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.
Anticipation for EuroBasket
With qualification virtually secured, the German basketball team can now focus on preparing for EuroBasket. The tournament will feature 24 European nations, including reigning champions Slovenia and other strong contenders like Spain, France, and Greece. The German team will be aiming to build on their recent successes and make a deep run in the competition.
