- Narration: So we live the game
- Crosses.The final frame
- Graphic: Who will hang the gold at the World Cup in China? How will Spain end?
For the second time in its history, Spain will play the semifinals of a World Cup. The last and only time, 13 years ago, was gold, the cusp of a generation that has continued without leaving that sky since then, despite the passing of the years and the stars. The self-love, the commitment, the identity remained. The selection does not fall apart, giants or teams with lambskin threaten in front. He already looks at Beijing waiting for rival, Australia or the Czech Republic , for a place in Sunday's big party. [Narration and statistics: 90-78]
It will be the 11th semifinal in 13 years, which speaks of an overwhelming validity. And, for the purposes of the future, more than three quarters of the direct trip to the Games, because it is worth noting that on Wednesday the two Europeans do not win, so that the US or Australia are also in semis. Before a lower rival on paper, Spain did not deploy its best weapon this time. He showed that he also possesses other qualities and that they are not mancos either. The triple (11) arrived, the manna, another threat to add in this path of glory for China.
The selection could not be more on notice, with Serbia plucked just a few minutes before by Argentina. And the battle was going to be rough, because no rival is planted in a quarter-finals of a World Cup by chance, and although it would cost to recognize the Polish referents, it is already being demonstrated in the championship that what really pays off is the collective, The idea, dying for her. Poland, worth the topic, had nothing to lose. And that's when the dolls are distended, when the giants in front look like mills.
He dominated the selection to the rhythm of Ricky , trying to contain the daring rival, who went without complexes to the perimeter and who so often hit. And that his best player, the former Tenerife Ponitka (now in Zenit with Joan Plaza ), was out of line, normal with Claver on top. The first launching attempt came with the genius of Juancho , who was connected with four almost consecutive triples, pure aesthetics, with a confidence as he is not remembered (38-28). But Mike Taylor's did not throw in the towel. The good news is that Spain did not seem too uncomfortable and had the success of its part. The bad news was that Poland was still there at rest.
Rudy's triples
It was going to last shortly. Because Rudy , the captain, also of the intention and silent work, liked to teach that not so long ago he was also a deadly scorer, an excellent tripler (to the point that he was considered a specialist in the NBA). When he returned to the locker room he hit his fifth triple without a fault, Poland was already shaking (58-44).
But it is courageous and quarreling. He has arrests to look Spain in the eye, with the American AJ Slaughter at the controls, he dared to try to break the area, hard back so that so many times Scariolo's only left the triple option. They were going to paddle almost to the shore. In the final act, Spain put itself in the huge arms of the other Hernangómez . Willy , in his sweetest moment so far in the tournament, monopolized the points, for a moment all who added Spain in that quarter (12) and held the Polish bid. That was no joke. He even scared, with 76-72 in the absence of five minutes .
It was a partial 11-0, with two triples followed by Ricky (again top scorer with 19 points) on the way, which finally made them bow. The one that propelled Spain towards another medal, in search of the 11th in the last 12 tournaments. Towards eternity.
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