• Stretchers, milkshakes and pillows. This is how Spain prepares the World Cup final
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  • Opinion: Doubts as a source of energy, by Carlos Jiménez
  • The rival Campazzo, a pocket leader for Argentina
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Two teams that are somewhat more face to face at the Wukesong Sport Center. Today's final (2:00 p.m., Four), dinner in Beijing, lunch in Madrid, breakfast in Buenos Aires, faces the two teams with greater self-esteem on the planet, two groups that did not burn with the embers of their recent past , so golden that it seemed unmatched. «We are similar in DNA and that is the fight and the heart. They were the Golden Generation and now it seemed that they were also going to take a step back and it was the opposite. They have given it forward, like us, ” Ricky explained yesterday. The 'they are not what they were' could be applied to both Spain and Argentina and there they are, waiting to conquer the world. Because regardless of the result, both are winners before the initial jump: nobody gave a hard for them .

That triple of Nocioni in Japan 2006 will be in memory, of course. Of that magical send in the semifinals of another World Cup, which the two remember with different sensations, there are still three witnesses. Eternal Luis Scola, Marc Gasol and Rudy Fernández . Argentina came from its zenith, the Olympic gold in Athens. 17 years later he will be in another world final, like the one he lost with Yugoslavia in 2002, in Indianapolis. If it seemed that the albiceleste transition would be hard - after the bronze in Beijing 2008 beyond the South American tournaments, they had not returned to a podium -, the new generations have brought an unexpected air. "They are the best team I've led in my life," proclaims Sergio Hernandez, with pride in the clouds.

The passage of time was more benevolent with Spain - it will be its first final without Pau Gasol in 20 years -, which continued to dominate with an iron hand in Europe and reached Olympic peaks in Beijing and London. Both came to the expectation now to China. The faces were already seen in a previous friendly match in Ningbó, won by Spain with an insurmountable end of Ricky match, but that day neither Campazzo nor Marc Gasol were on the track. The last official duel was in Rio , with a simple victory for the national team (92-73).

The two undefeated come, leaving their own and strangers speechless, tearing apart forecasts. Neither Serbia nor the US nor France nor Australia. The final speaks Spanish in Beijing. And it has an unusual role in the ACB: 14 of the 24 finalists currently play in the Endesa League and 21 have ever gone through the competition. On the other hand, there will only be four NBAs , Gasol, Ricky and the Hernangómez brothers.

The inheritance of Ginobili, Oberto, Nocioni and company remains as intact as they might not have expected. He is missing centimeters, his rotation is as scarce as that of Spain, but along the way two of the favorites have been swamped, almost without disheveled. First Serbia in the quarterfinals and Friday France in the semifinals. One of its secrets is the brotherhood. The group has been together since the Pan American, at the end of July, which they conquered 24 years later, winning a light USA in Lima in the final. «The more we see them, the more our feeling goes up that it will be very complicated. They have not arrived here by chance. They have arrived with determination, character, defensive strength and brutal optimization of offensive resources. We have to be prepared for a dog-faced match, ”Scariolo warned .

If Spain is Marc and Ricky, Argentina is Campazzo and Scola . Ricky del Facu spoke: «Sergio and Rudy have already warned me. They tell me wonders of him and that he has few weaknesses. That will be difficult, but I feel like it. It is one more challenge. And they want us too. And Marc de Scola: «Luis is amazing. You see him raising the ball, doing coast to coast. The energy and enthusiasm that moves playing for so many people, a country, pushes you ». But I didn't forget the rest. «Deck, Laprovittola, Brussino ... And the coach encourages them and gives them courage. They work amazing, they sacrifice a lot. They put the physical level very high », analyzed Gasol who can match Lamar Odom as the only player to win the NBA and World Cup ring the same year.

Although there was no climax like Ricky's: "In my mind there is only one thing that is gold."

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  • Basketball World Cup 2019
  • Ricky Rubio
  • Spanish Basketball Team
  • Argentina Basketball Team
  • Marc Gasol
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