Germany, France, and Canada have firmly secured their places in the knockout stages of the tournament. These teams have demonstrated resilience and skill, setting a high bar for the remaining contenders. Team USA is on the cusp of joining them; a victory against South Sudan on Wednesday will clinch their spot.
Germany's Commanding Performance
Germany's advancement was marked by a stellar performance against Brazil, culminating in an 86-73 win. Dennis Schroder was the linchpin of this success, leading with 20 points while also distributing six assists. The victory underscored Germany's strategic prowess and the emergence of Schroder as a key player in clutch moments.
France's Overtime Thriller
In one of the most thrilling encounters, France triumphed over Japan in a nail-biting overtime match. Victor Wembanyama was pivotal, scoring eight of his 18 points during the crucial overtime period. The dramatic equalizer, delivered by Matthew Strazel with just 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, forced the game into overtime and demonstrated France's tenacity. Nicolas Batum reflected on the game’s intensity, saying, "We could've easily given up down four with 10 seconds. We had no solution, and we got a crazy shot from Matthew."
Yuki Kawamura of Japan put up a tremendous fight, scoring a game-high 29 points. Rui Hachimura also delivered an outstanding performance with 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting before his departure from the game.
Canada's Solid Win
Canada secured a significant victory over Australia, winning 93-83. RJ Barrett led the Canadian team with 24 points, shooting 8-for-15 in just 25 minutes on the court. This win underscored Canada's depth and capability in facing high-stakes situations. Jordi Fernandez, reflecting on Barrett’s contribution, remarked, "He's that guy. Sometimes, I don't call plays for him and he just scores. That's what he does. Probably, I should be better and call more plays for him, but he finds a way." Australia, however, managed to hold onto the second place in Group A despite the loss.
Spectacular Win for Spain
Spain also moved forward with a hard-fought victory over Greece, finishing with an 84-77 scoreline. Giannis Antetokounmpo stood out for Greece, delivering an impressive performance with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. However, it wasn’t enough to secure a win against a determined Spanish team.
The coaches have been pivotal in these games, employing tactical variations and motivating their squads under pressure. For instance, Brian Goorjian noted the physical challenge in their game strategy, "The concern coming into the game was their pressure and how we handle their pressure. Even though we had depth in those spots, they wore us down physically, and we really had trouble getting into anything in the second half." Meanwhile, Sergio Scariolo’s approach in handling his lineup was strategic, "We thought we'd keep it for the very end of the game... Actually, with Luis Gil, our defensive coordinator, we've been talking a lot about doing it at some point, but we decided to keep it for the very end, because I wanted to keep Willy on the floor, his pick-and-roll with Lorenzo [Brown] is a big weapon for us."
These victories set up an exhilarating knockout stage, with teams like Germany, France, and Canada showcasing the level of competition expected at this prestigious level. As the tournament progresses, fans and analysts alike will be keenly observing how strategies unfold and which players rise to the occasion in the pressure-filled stages ahead.