Two Finals Await Us in Podgorica and Bamberg
Mumbru with his team during training in Munich, Photo: DBB
Traveling from Munich through Vienna to Podgorica, the world champion Germany arrives in our capital today. They are set to compete against Montenegro in the EuroBasket qualifiers on Thursday at 19:00.
The road to the European Championship is a steep one for our national team, where a miracle is the only way forward. Meanwhile, the Germans seek to calm their nerves, but they know their fate is in their own hands, as their next crucial matches await in “Morača” and in Bamberg against Bulgaria three days later.
“We have two crucial finals ahead of us,” said Alex Mumbru, the coach of Germany, who is not focusing on the possibility of receiving help from Sweden on Thursday, which could eliminate the Balkan team with a win over Bulgaria.
“We are uncertain about what will happen in Bulgaria, but our focus is solely on winning both matches,” he stated.
While it may seem unlikely, Germany must face the possibility of being eliminated from EuroBasket, an event hosted by Latvia, Poland, Finland, and Cyprus.
“We recognize the gravity of our situation. Although the possibility exists, I am confident that we will be ready to perform well,” added the respected Spanish basketball figure now coaching Germany.
To demonstrate their commitment, Coach Mumbru is relying on seven players who triumphed in Manila in 2023 for these crucial matches: Isaac Bonga, Andreas Obst, Johannes Feujtmann, Justus Hollac, Johannes Thiemann, David Kramer, and Daniel Theis, although Theis will not appear in “Morača.”
“These players are world champions with immense experience. In challenging circumstances like ours, it’s vital that they stand with us,” Mumbru concluded.
In contrast, our national team faces challenges due to the absence of captain Bojan Dubljević and Charlie Moore, who was expected to fill in for Kendrick Perry.
However, the path to Montenegro’s fifth EuroBasket appearance is largely in the hands of Boško Radović and his team, as the odds of missing out seem almost impossible.
To be eliminated, Montenegro needs to lose to Germany and then to Sweden in Stockholm three days later. All teams in the group must end up with a 3-3 record, and our national team must have the lowest point difference, currently standing at plus 28.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t diminish Radović’s squad’s determination to defeat the world champion on their home turf and eliminate any speculation regarding further outcomes before the round concludes.
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