By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Cologne, Germany – As one of the four co-cost countries of the 2022 EuroBasket, Germany made sure to begin the festivities at home appropriately: By throwing a party in Lanxess Arena, Cologne at the expense of France.
The crowd had a lot of fun watching their national team making a statement by shutting down one of EuroBasket’s contenders and the German players really enjoyed themselves as well. They cheered and shouted in unison when one of them made a big play, encouraged their teammates after a mistake, and loudly celebrated each other’s highlights.
The one who led this dance was NBA guard Dennis Schroder, the team’s biggest star. Schroder was visibly just delighted with the game of his comrades (especially Maodo Lo – and rightfully so), personifying with each and every one of his reactions a general aura of positiveness and strong camaraderie that looks to be strong within the group.
He definitely feels that there’s special going on.
“I think our team chemistry is amazing,” Schroder said. “We never had that before. Everybody is confident. Everybody is just stepping on the floor and trying to bring an impact to the game. I think everybody is happy for each other. It doesn’t matter who scores the basket, everybody is happy and that’s the way to go.”
It was quite a way to start the EuroBasket for a German team that – why not – hopes to enter the race for a medal, even if its not widely considered among the favorites for a podium spot. For now, Schroder and his teammates want to stay collected and focused, leaving this game behind and having their eyes fixed only on the next battle.
“We did our job,” Schroder said. “That was one game and we have four [in the Group] left. We try to keep ready for Bosnia and do the same thing against them.”
Before the match, Schroder and everyone in the arena watched as Dirk Nowitzki’s national team jersey rose to the skies of Lanxess. It’s the first time that a European player receives such honor.
“He earned every second of it,” Schroder said. As a young rising star for Germany, he was Nowitzki’s teammate in the latter’s final performance with the national team in the EuroBasket. What he brought to basketball, internationally one of the best power forwards ever. He’s just an amazing person.
“I’m happy for him.”