Spain wants to squeeze the ‘Oranje’ before the Eurobasket
Scariolo’s team faces the FIBA World Cup ‘window’ as the last rehearsal before the continental tournament
MADRID, 26 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s basketball team faces the Netherlands this Saturday (7:00 p.m./Teledeporte) with two points at stake for qualifying for the 2023 World Cup, and it is also the last game before facing the Eurobasket with their debut on September 1.
Spain is in the second and final phase to get a ticket to a World Cup in which it will defend its title. The start was on Wednesday against Iceland with a clear victory (87-57) to strengthen the lead, and now the ‘Oranje’ appears as bottom of Group L.
Sergio Scariolo’s men have, as against the Icelanders, a double commitment in the match that will be played in Almere. Spain cannot fail against an a priori inferior rival to get closer to the next World Cup and, in addition, it has to speed up its preparation and have a satisfactory final test for a European that looks tough.
The preparation for the Eurobasket has left lights and shadows in a renewed selection, without many of its latest flagships, such as the Gasol, Sergio Rodríguez or Ricky Rubio. Spain played three games in July and, in its current concentration, has played another five, with three wins and two losses.
Against Iceland at the Navarra Arena, the three-time European champion showed her growth, also physically, in addition to adding the victory after the two defeats against Lithuania. However, Scariolo’s problems are growing with Sergio Llull’s latest muscle injury, an important loss for the tournament.
A forced absence like that of Alberto Abalde, within a group already reduced compared to the last tournaments, which forces the rest to give a little more. On an individual level, Willy Hernangómez has been the best of the team in recent games, while he continues to lack success on the offensive side.
Between injuries and discards, there are 13 players that Scariolo has and only one more will come out before heading to the European Championship, with his debut on September 1 against Bulgaria. There hasn’t been a Spain-Netherlands since 1989, with a 16-1 balance favorable to Spain, a rival that fits with achieving a victory that motivates.
DATASHEET:
–EQUIPMENT:
–PAÍSES BAJOS: Charlon Kloof, Keye van der Vuurst de Vries, Worthy De Jong, Mohamed Kherrazi, Jito Kok, Matt Haarms, Olaf Schaftenaar, Roeland Schaftenaar, Hammink, Ververs, Williams.
–SPAIN: Brown, Rudy Fernández, Juancho Hernangómez, Garuba, Willy Hernangómez, Brizuela, Jaime Fernández, Guerra, Llull, Núñez, Pradilla, Saiz.
–PABELLON: Top sports center.
–TIME: 7:00 p.m./Telesport.