Scariolo's umpteenth masterpiece or how he managed to lead a group for which nobody bet on European gold

• Lorenzo Brown From the controversial express nationalization to a hero of Spain

• Opinion The future is also ours

"This does not happen by chance. There are many years of hard work here."

To understand everything there is a specific date and place of departure.

Benahavís (Málaga), July 2017. Day one of the plan drawn up by

to anticipate the inevitable abyss that was approaching with the gradual goodbye of the generations that led Spain to mark an era.

In that concentration of what many called a Selection B is the seed of success, of that world gold in Beijing and this European in Berlin.

It is the umpteenth masterpiece of the Italian technician, perhaps the one that he will keep the most affection in his album of glory over the years.

It is the gold that reaffirms him as a legend on a par with the historical FIBA ​​basketball coaches (this fifth medal in a Eurobasket makes him surpass

, and only behind the Soviet myth

), the one that throws wide open the future door of the

.

"This medal is the least expected and the most satisfying", he has been honest.

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Scariolo's magic board: "There is nothing random, not even throw-ins"

• Drafting: LUCAS SÁEZ-BRAVO(Special envoy)Berlin

Scariolo's magic board: "There is nothing random, not even throw-ins"

EuroBasket.

Spain defeats France and culminates in gold its most unthinkable feat

• Drafting: LUCAS SÁEZ-BRAVO(Special envoy)Berlin

Spain defeats France and culminates in gold its most unthinkable feat

Sergio Scariolo, who has been accompanied in Berlin in recent days by his wife

, has not smiled too much during this tournament, his tenth with Spain (eighth medal).

He is not very fond of celebrations.

He is more of routines.

There is one that has been fulfilled in each decisive match of the national team.

In the previous one, the Italian puts in value the talents of the rival.

And he makes it seem

for Spain.

It is not victimhood, in this tournament it has been an unquestionable reality.

Then he goes to work tactically and his team always competes, surprises and wins.

The day before the final, however, the coach already spoke in a different way, as if released.

"We did not come out with the favors of the forecast, but we have managed more than once to reduce the gap that separates us, and even end up winning", he dared to pronounce and joke about "continuing to deceive the staff", perhaps aware that achieved was already one of his great deeds.

lorenzo brown

From that dawn in Benahavis, which was later prolonged in the successive FIBA ​​Windows, three witnesses survive in the team of this European Championship:

.

was also

there, who had to leave due to injury during the preparation.

And others like

were still children then.

Scariolo's work, which was also forged in the offices with the nationalization of a key figure like

, has been an unusual amalgamation.

The Italian has shown, in case there was any doubt, that he not only knew how to make the biggest cast of stars that Spain saw together in time succeed (with the

and company, three continental golds, an Olympic silver, world gold...), also competed and triumphed with the 'others', a low-profile group that is still the heart that sustains Spanish basketball.

"What an effort and how many people. I represent a lot of people in lower categories. Those who have helped create this personality and these values," she claimed.

Scariolo, during the final against France.AFP

The road to the final in Berlin has not been easy either, in a summer that began on August 1 full of bad news.

Scariolo's resignations and injuries were precipitated.

He soon learned that he was not going to be able to count on

again , who since 2016 wants nothing to do with the national team.

In addition to the well - known injuries to

's were soon added

.

Others, such as

They quit for different reasons.

And, even so, the coach knew how to put together a block whose objective was only to compete.

Survive the first phase and then try to surprise in Berlin.

Everything that happened afterwards, the slap in the face against Bulgaria, the surprise against Turkey without Rudy to be first in Tbilisi, the heroics against Lithuania, the comeback against Finland and the amazing blow against local Germany, is history.

And behind her, also the "tactical cylinder" of Scariolo, more decisive than ever.

Perhaps because he never had such a moving predisposition from his pupils, the Italian's magic board and his coaching staff have ended up boosting the self-confidence of his inexperienced boys, to the point of changing their lives.

"We feel that we destabilized the rival",

confessed .

A soldier willing to do anything, like the rest.

starting from the starter and sticking with

in the quarterfinals or not playing a minute in the semifinals.

"To this team, to eggs, I do not change it for any", as Scariolo told them in the talk before the match against Germany.

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