Basketball World Cup: Germany beats the USA and is in the final – the game of a lifetime

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Andi who? Andi Obst! The Bayern player (lying on the ground) poured 24 points into the USA

Photograph:

Tilo Wiedensohler / camera4+ / IMAGO

Eat your fruits, USA: The German team showed an outstanding team performance, otherwise the USA would not have been defeated. But what Andi Obst conjured up on the floor caused huge question marks on the faces of the Americans. Obst, who is employed by FC Bayern in the Bundesliga, has been Germany's top scorer for years. But also a player who is considered enormously streaky. Who either hits everything – or nothing.

In the semi-finals, the 27-year-old showed an all-time performance. He hit his three-point shots at the beginning and at the end, he moved to the basket in an unusual way for him, finished from the middle distance and handed out six assists. "Andi was incredible," said Daniel Theis. "Andi Obst has to be taken out in particular," said Franz Wagner. And fruit? When asked if he had just played the best game of his career, he laughed embarrassedly. The answer is clear anyway.

The result: Germany defeated the USA 113:111 (59:60) and moves into a World Cup final for the first time. The best German point scorer: Andi Obst with 24 points. Closely followed by the no less strong Franz Wagner (22) and Theis (21). NBA stars Anthony Edwards (23), Austin Reaves (21) and Mikal Bridges (17) scored best for the Americans. Both teams were a feast for the eyes on offense, such a spectacle can only be admired in the NBA.

Read the thriller in the minute log here. The detailed report on the semi-finals can be found here.

Don't waste time: Recently, Germans often trailed in the first quarter, against the USA they set a crazy pace at the beginning. "We wanted to play fast," Obst said. Franz Wagner scored from distance and with a dunk, Obst sank his throws, Schroeder was also allowed to celebrate. The ball was running, on offense it was close to perfection, which the Germans showed in the first quarter.

No bouncer: Germany had 33 points after the first quarter. And yet only a minimal lead over the USA. Of course, these highly gifted US boys could not be shaken off. One-man steamroller Edwards and Brooklyn Nets star Bridges always found an answer. In the second quarter, the USA turned the game around and were ahead by four points after just over four minutes. National coach Gordon Herbert recognized the danger just in time and took the time-out.

Take a breather: It was probably one of the most important timeouts in German basketball history. Herbert and Schroeder talked to the players, who had previously defended a little too wildly. After the time-out, the DBB team went on a 9-3 run and was back in the game.

Again the old, new Schroeder: This was also due to Schroeder. Against Latvia, the captain had fallen into old patterns, wanted to put his head through the wall and brought Germany to the brink of elimination. Against the USA, he kept a low profile with throws, got the offensive going - and fought for every ball. Shortly before halftime, a long ball from the Americans flew in the direction of Josh Hart, who was free on his way to the basket. Schroeder paid attention, skipped his much taller NBA colleague and prevented the easy points. The half-time score was 59:60, Germany was only one point behind.

Schlager vs. Springsteen: The World Cup organizers must have a rather distorted image of Germany. In any case, if the German basketball players are successful, Mallorca rackets are regularly played in the Asian basketball halls. Particularly loud against the USA: »Layla«, which was quite fitting again due to the weeks of excitement that the song had triggered last summer. After all, the USA did not fare much better and was musically accompanied by Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA".

The Monster: Daniel Theis also showed one of his weaker games against Latvia. And similar to Schroeder, he seemed to have saved everything for the semi-finals. In the NBA, he was only allowed to play seven times last season after a long injury break, now he showed the Americans what they miss when Theis stews on the bench. Theis blocked, stole the ball, got rebounds. "An absolute monster," Franz Wagner called him afterwards, who played no less strongly. Thanks in part to Theis' efforts, Germany seemed to succeed in everything – while the USA began to ponder. When, shortly before the end of the third quarter, Mo Wagner hit a desperation shot that went so high that the ball almost touched the ceiling of the hall, the momentum seemed to have tipped over. Germany won the third quarter 35-24 and led 94-84.

Again and again thrilla in Manila: What came next was hard to beat in terms of drama. Because, of course, the Americans struck back again. Twelve NBA stars were visibly not eager to be promoted out of the tournament by Andi Obst. Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks found his way into the game, moved to the basket, scored from midrange and from the free-throw line. Jaren Jackson Jr. suddenly played like the best defender in the NBA, which he had been voted last season. Edwards flew through the air like Kobe Bryant once did. Lakers star Austin Reaves hit his shots. With 95 seconds remaining, the U.S. was on the verge of one point.

Not so fast: They shouldn't get any closer because Germany welded in a three-pointer 21 seconds later. Who threw? Andi Obst, of course. After that, however, the game remained highly exciting, the USA were always within four points of the Germans. Austin Reaves then made the points 110 and 111 of the Americans half a second before the clock expired. Germany took a timeout, then brought the ball back into play one last time – and then everyone fell into each other's arms. Obst then had to go to the doping test, but mastered this task as well.

TV blackout ended: The World Cup final on Sunday will not only be broadcast on MagentaSport, but also on ZDF, which is acquiring a sublicense. In hindsight, it's always easy to complain, but the previous seven wins from seven games would have been in good hands on free TV from the start.

Old acquaintance: Germany has never been in a World Cup final. For this reason alone, the achievement can be called historic. The previous best World Championship result of third place in 2002 has already been surpassed. Now it's about the second title, because at least the DBB was European champion before. In 1993, three years before the birth of Andi Obst. Coach of the Germans at that time: Svetislav Pešić. Coach of final opponents Serbia: Svetislav Pešić.