The sorted out basketball captain Robin Benzing expressed himself with emotional words about his departure from the national team.

"To this day I can't really find the words for it.

That was very, very hard.

For me it was like a broken heart or a dagger going in the middle," said the 33-year-old on the "GotNexxt" podcast.

The national team has been a kind of drug for him in recent years.

"There was nothing more important to me." The new captain has been NBA professional Dennis Schröder for a few weeks.

Benzing was removed from the provisional squad by national coach Gordon Herbert in August.

“I said I would like to be there.

If it is no longer enough in terms of sport, then also as the eleventh or twelfth man.

It was clear that I would also accept this role," said Benzing.

Emotionally affected, the veteran described how he missed the birth of his daughter because of the national team or how he came to qualify for the World Cup when his wife was diagnosed with cancer.

"Who Knows What Happens"

The currently unattached winger, who last played for Fortitudo Bologna, is confident about the future at the club.

“Everything is a bit closed right now, the Eurobasket is running.

I have to see that I wait a bit.

I don't think I'm in the worst position," said Benzing.

"Who knows what will happen."

Meanwhile, Dirk Nowitzki is also happy about the perfect start of the German players at the European Championship.

"In such a difficult group, it's obviously a dream start," said Germany's basketball legend on Saturday evening on ZDF's "Aktuelles Sportstudio" after the German team's two wins against France and Bosnia-Hercegovina.

This Sunday (2.30 p.m. at Magentasport) Germany will continue against the still winless European Championship co-favorite Lithuania.

Nowitzki expects a very difficult task.

“Lithuania is struggling a bit, they will be under a bit of pressure tomorrow.

It will be a very difficult test again.”

Nowitzki follows the games in Cologne as an EM ambassador.

The great games and the great atmosphere in the arena also inspire Nowitzki, who retired in 2019.

"Almost 19,000 fans in the hall, it's a bit tingling," said Nowitzki.

"Those are the moments when it's a little harder," said the 44-year-old from Würzburg when asked if he was missing basketball after retiring.

"Lithuania is a very talented team, well coached and a great basketball nation.

That's all I know," said head coach Gordon Herbert after his team turned the game against Bosnia-Hercegovina in high spirits on Saturday.

What shouldn't have escaped the 63-year-old coach's attention: Lithuania has loud and excellent fans with them, who should be able to challenge Germany for home advantage.

“Lithuania will be a very tough opponent again, who will also bring a lot of fans with them.

We watch video and try to get better and then be ready," said Captain Schröder, who was the top scorer of the German team with 18 points against Bosnia, but is still struggling with his shaky throw.

"I'll keep throwing and put my teammates in the limelight," announced Schröder.

It's impressive that we still managed to win two games.

Lithuania has lost both games so far, on Saturday there was a narrow 73:77 against France.

After the Germany duel, the supposed outsiders Bosnia-Hercegovina and Hungary are waiting.

In addition to the 28-year-old playmaker Schröder, there are other convincing protagonists in the ranks of the Germans: Young star Franz Wagner impresses as in his first NBA season, also in his European Championship debut.

Johannes Voigtmann and Daniel Theis dig under the basket and relieve Schröder offensively.

And the bank around Johannes Thiemann, Maodo Lo and Andreas Obst has been working very well so far.

"It's awesome.

It's really fun to play here.

The fans are unbelievable," said Thiemann after another game in front of more than 18,000 spectators in Cologne.

In the preliminary round season B, which is treated as a hammer group, the hosts have been the benchmark so far.

“The fact that we kept cool heads and played like this says a lot about us.

We stayed together as a team,” said Schröder.

Outstanding defense against the French, great morale against Bosnia-Hercegovina: This is how head coach Herbert thinks it can go on.

Defending champion Slovenia with Luka Doncic, who is also in the group, was defeated just a week ago in the World Cup qualifier.