That has style.

Moritz Wagner shook his head.

The national basketball player did not see himself in the quarter-finals early on Saturday evening.

The Germans had just lost the last group game against Australia 76:89 (40:44).

But the whole world of basketball sees the selection of national coach Henrik Rödl thanks to the victory over Nigeria on Wednesday in the next round.

Anno Hecker

Responsible editor for sports.

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Because nobody believes that the United States' NBA selection will defeat the Czech Republic with only two points later that evening. A win with three was enough for the Germans to return to the knockout round of an Olympic tournament for the first time since 1992. A huge leap for a team that only managed to qualify at the last minute, without its NBA professionals including star Dennis Schröder.

“I don't want to think about that now,” said the 24-year-old Wagner (six points), still in a sweat-soaked jersey, in the catacombs of the Saitama Super Arena: “I also think it would be a bit disrespectful to the Czechs. We'll look at it and then see if we can go home tomorrow. ”The Germans stay. The Americans did what was expected of them. They beat the Czech Republic thanks to an increase in the third quarter 119: 81 (47:43). As one of the two best thirds in the group, the selection of the German Basketball Federation (DBB) made it into the knockout round of an Olympic tournament for the first time since 1992. A huge leap for a team that only managed to qualify at the last minute without its NBA professionals including star Dennis Schröder. 

The Germans would have liked to get ahead without the help of Kevin Durant and Co.

Before the promotion was confirmed, most of the teammates weren't depressed behind Wagner's back, but pulled by in a sobering manner into the locker room, a game in the head with a recognizable character: after a strong start, the Germans stood up to the medal candidate until the fourth quarter, before that went like at the start of the Olympic tournament against Italy: A final phase with no structure in the attack, with disintegration phenomena in the defense, introduced by what takes a team's rhythm: ball losses.

"Germany did well for a long time"

"We then managed to defend very well in the crucial phase and make the right decisions," said Australian player Patty Mills, "Germany did well for a long time." Rödl's players had the match plan after a 5-0 deficit implemented: grab hard, defend cleverly, just leave no room for maneuver.

The Germans showed what made them strong over the summer.

To be uncomfortable, always there to protect your own basket.

They combined this virtue with an excellent hit rate in the first quarter: 73 percent.

If the last litter of the Australians had not been made with the final siren, the Australians would have looked at a very meager yield: 18:22.

The concept also worked in the second quarter.

But the hit rate fell - how could it have been otherwise?

- on 47.