The German basketball professionals did not want to hear praise after their defeat.

"The Germans are a fascinating team," commented coach Sergio Scariolo after the 96:91 his Spanish selection in the semi-finals: "A great opponent." Lorenzo Brown, American playmaker for the Spanish national team, was still impressed minutes after the game: "It there was a fascinating energy in the hall.

And Schröder played unbelievably.”

Michael Reinsch

Correspondent for sports in Berlin.

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Dennis Schröder, who is outstanding with 30 points and 6 assists, and his teammates knew only too well that they had a great chance of winning the European Championship on Sunday in Berlin and squandered it.

There, on Sunday evening, the Spaniards will play against France, the team that defeated the German team in the first round of the European Championships in Cologne.

"We gave everything, we had the option to win the game," said Schröder.

"We dug a hole"

His team led by eight points just before the last quarter (71:63), but then the 14,000 spectators had to watch what happened, as national coach Gordon Herbert described: "We dug ourselves a hole." 31 points made it into the in the final ten minutes the Spaniards, whose most successful were Brown with 29 points and the brothers Willy and Juancho Hernangomez with 16 and 13 points.

The Germans only got twenty;

In addition to 17 missed shots in the first three quarters, there were 18 more in the last ten minutes alone (with 33 goals, 49 percent).

Schröder was pressed by two or even three defenders.

"If several players are on me, then of course the others have to do something," commented Schröder: "In the end, the Spaniards defended me well and slowed me down.

But we have so much quality in the team that everyone can do something.”

The quality is obvious.

As soon as the NBA pros Schröder, Franz Wagner (15 points) and Daniel Theis (10), the Euroleague players Andreas Obst (15), Maodo Lo (9), Johannes Thiemann (6) and Johannes Voigtmann (2) die Currently injured Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga return, the prospects for a successful performance at the 2023 World Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games become promising.

But none of the players wanted to think about that on Friday night, even though they have promised each other to stay together for this campaign.

"Of course we wanted to win the game today," said Schröder: "As captain, I and the boys want to win a medal.

We would make history.

That is motivation for everyone.”

The third European Championship medal for the German team is at stake on Sunday.

31 years ago, in 1993, Germany became European champion as the host of the tournament, 17 years ago, in 2005 in Belgrade, Dirk Nowitzki's team reached the final.

"Keep your head down, boys!

Get bronze!” Nowitzki wrote on Twitter.

The national team will play against Poland on Sunday (5:15 p.m., broadcast by MagentaSport and RTL) for third place, the desired place on the podium and the bronze medal.

The team around point guard Mateusz Ponitka got stuck in the game against France on Friday evening.

Two days after the surprise victory over European champions Slovenia with Luka Doncic, the Poles only scored 54 points - 31 fewer than the French.

"They will also come motivated and want to grab a medal," commented Andreas Obst; one shouldn't underestimate the team. "We won twice against Poland in the World Cup qualifier," recalled Herbert: Minute."

Schröder was optimistic.

"People said we wouldn't even get through the preliminary round.

We had a very, very tough lap and got through it," he said: "With these guys in the locker room, I'll take on any opponent.

I love the boys, we gave everything.”

Franz Wagner went into the dressing room with his head hanging.

"I am very disappointed.

We could have done it better today as a team," he said: "But that's part of it.

We have to tick that off.

We can still get a medal.

In this respect, I'm looking forward to Sunday.” And Johannes Thiemann also showed something like optimism.

"It hurts today.

We could have beaten them.

But the dream of the medal is still alive," he said: "We will focus on tomorrow."

Schroeder back to the Lakers

Meanwhile, it was announced that night that Schröder had agreed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for the coming season.

"We are very pleased to welcome Dennis Schröder back to the Lakers," said Vice President Rob Pelinka late Friday evening (local time), according to the club's announcement.

Details of the contract were not released.

According to media reports, it should be a one-year contract worth $2.64 million.

This was reported, among other things, by ESPN, citing Schröder's agents.

Schröder already played for the Lakers in 2020/21 and will now return to the side of superstar LeBron James.

"It's an honor to play for the @Lakers.

Can't wait to get started!" Schröder wrote on Instagram.

Last year, the point guard turned down an $84 million four-year extension to his Lakers contract and went on to play in Boston and Houston.

The last year didn't feel right, Schröder wrote.

He felt misunderstood and nobody really knew the story.

He is now coming back to the largest organization to do everything right.

"I'll give everything I have, every single day!!"