Vatreni
Hrvatska u srcu!
Die Auslosung der Gruppen ist inzwischen über die Bühne gegangen und Deutschland hat ne ganz schöne Hammergruppe erwischt:
Gruppe A (Spielort: Vrsac)
Russland
Deutschland
Italien
Ukraine
Gruppe B (Podgorica)
Kroatien
Türkei
Litauen
Bulgarien
Gruppe C (Belgrad)
Slowenien
Frankreich
Griechenland
Bosnien
Gruppe D (Novi Sad)
Serbien/Montenegro
Spanien
Lettland
Qualifikant
Das DSF überträgt 10 Spiele live. Hier die Termine:
Freitag, 16. September, 18 Uhr: Deutschland - Italien
Samstag, 17. September, 18 Uhr: Russland - Italien, 21 Uhr: Deutschland - Ukraine
Sonntag, 18. September, 21 Uhr: Deutschland - Russland
Dienstag, 20. September, 18 Uhr: Deutschland - Türkei
Finalrunde in Belgrad:
Donnerstag, 22. September, 17.30 Uhr: Russland - Griechenland
Freitag, 23. September, 18 Uhr: Deutschland - Slowenien
Samstag, 24. September, 18 Uhr: 1. Halbfinale, 21 Uhr: 2. Halbfinale
Sonntag, 25. September, 21 Uhr: Finale
Hier noch ein paar Stimmen zur Auslosung, leider nur in Englisch:
Gruppe A (Spielort: Vrsac)
Russland
Deutschland
Italien
Ukraine
Gruppe B (Podgorica)
Kroatien
Türkei
Litauen
Bulgarien
Gruppe C (Belgrad)
Slowenien
Frankreich
Griechenland
Bosnien
Gruppe D (Novi Sad)
Serbien/Montenegro
Spanien
Lettland
Qualifikant
Das DSF überträgt 10 Spiele live. Hier die Termine:
Freitag, 16. September, 18 Uhr: Deutschland - Italien
Samstag, 17. September, 18 Uhr: Russland - Italien, 21 Uhr: Deutschland - Ukraine
Sonntag, 18. September, 21 Uhr: Deutschland - Russland
Dienstag, 20. September, 18 Uhr: Deutschland - Türkei
Finalrunde in Belgrad:
Donnerstag, 22. September, 17.30 Uhr: Russland - Griechenland
Freitag, 23. September, 18 Uhr: Deutschland - Slowenien
Samstag, 24. September, 18 Uhr: 1. Halbfinale, 21 Uhr: 2. Halbfinale
Sonntag, 25. September, 21 Uhr: Finale
Hier noch ein paar Stimmen zur Auslosung, leider nur in Englisch:
Italy: Bulleri Warns Of Group Threat
15 January 2005
By Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA International
Italian international Massimo Bulleri admits his national team is facing another a difficult 2005 European Championship finals.
Carlo Recalcati's outfit have been paired in Group A with Germany, Russia and Ukraine in the competition, which will be held in Belgrade from September 15-25.
While Ukraine, who finished 14th in Sweden two years ago, appear to be the easiest opponents, the Azzurri are not taking them lightly and they will also be tested by Germany and Russia.
The Germans, despite boasting the amazing talents of NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, failed to win a medal at the last European Championships as did the Andrei Kirilenko-led Russians.
It was Italy's 86-84 win in Sweden which knocked Germany out of the 2003 European Championships, and for that reason Benetton Treviso playmaker Bulleri is not keen to face them again.
"It's a difficult group," the 28-year-old Bulleri told PA International.
"Two years ago Germany were one of the favourites to clinch the title and we cannot forget the fact that they will have an added motivation to beat us considering we won against them in the qualifying phase that allowed us to reach the Stockholm finals.
"We cannot underestimate Russia who can be a tough rival especially if they have (Utah Jazz forward) Andrei Kirilenko."
Italy will no doubt be inspired by their recent successes having followed their bronze medal in the 2003 European Championships with a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Athens last summer.
"We want to maintain our high level and achieve an important result in next year's Eurobasket," said Bulleri, who plays his club basketball for Italian giants Benetton Treviso.
"But we will have to work very hard in order to achieve this because when it comes to such a high-standard competition you never know what can happen.
"The level in Europe is very high and there will be eight teams looking towards the podium so it will not be easy."
Spain Ready For Battle
15 January 2005
By Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA International
There are no easy games at European Championships but Spain could hardly have asked for a more difficult opener after being drawn to face Serbia & Montenegro.
World champions Serbia & Montenegro are like a wounded animal after their summer horror show at the Olympics where they finished 11th out of 12 teams.
Spain coach Mario Pesquera, who led the Spanish past Serbia & Montenegro in the preliminary round at the Olympics, told PA International after Saturday's draw in Belgrade: "It's the luck of the draw."
"I don't think Serbia would have chosen us and neither would we have chosen them.
The two sides are in Group D, which also features Latvia and the winner of the additional qualifying tournament which is still to be played.
Spain, who have a terrific foursome in Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasol, Unicaja Malaga's Jorge Garbajosa, Tau Ceramica's Jose Manuel Calderon and Barcelona's Juan Carlos Navarro, were runners-up to Lithuania in the Eurobasket in Sweden two years ago.
The Spanish were also one of the most impressive teams at the Olympics, looking almost unbeatable in fact, until their only loss of the tournament came in the quarter-finals against Team USA, a result which knocked them out of medal contention.
Pesquera says competitions likes the Olympics, and Eurobasket are unpredictable.
"In any case it's very difficult to know what's going to happen," he said. "Things never turn out as you expect.
"You might have an easy group and then suffer a setback or quite the opposite and be in a difficult group but go through.
"Serbia have a fantastic group and will probably have some of their NBA players available.
"But we can't go mad with the idea of which players will be selected, because a team's success depends not only on individual talent - but also on the team's chemistry.
"If you have the best players but they don't know how to play together, it's pointless."
Spain have had terrific chemistry the past couple of years, and they are definitely not a one-man team despite Gasol's incredible talents.
Pesquera will be hoping that Raul Lopez can play this year because he wasn't able to take part in the Olympics, due to his shared concern with the Utah Jazz about his recent knee problems.
If he does play, Spain will unquestionably have the best guards in Serbia & Montenegro with Calderon and Navarro also big-time players.
Pesquera, no matter who shows up to play for his team, knows that September is going to be a very difficult task.
"It's a challenging tournament and we have to play the best teams in Europe," he said. "Much depends on how the teams arrive at the competition. But we are competitive and we will go there and try to win," he added.
"Turkey Have Toughest Group"
15 January 2005
By Doug Booth, PA International
Turkey coach Bogdan Tanjevic believes Saturday's draw for the European Championships has done his team few favours.
Turkey were paired with Croatia, Lithuania and Bulgaria in Group B of Eurobasket 2005 in Belgrade this September.
Though he avoided the likes of Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, France and hosts Serbia & Montenegro, Tanjevic told PA International: "We are in the strongest group.
"The biggest threat is Lithuania, who have prepared well and will be hard to stop as they seek a second successive gold medal."
Turkey were runners-up to Yugoslavia when they hosted Eurobasket 2001 but their form dropped off considerably the next two years.
They had a disappointing ninth-placed finish at FIBA World Championship 2002 in Indianapolis and the following year at the Eurobasket 2003 in Sweden they were 12th.
Tanjevic, who replaced Aydin Ors at the helm, was in charge of the Italian team that won gold in 1999 and under him, Turkey's hopes have been revived as he steered them on an unbeaten six-game run in Eurobasket qualifying.
He knows he needs a full-strength roster to have any chance of winning gold. With players of the quality of Utah Jazz forward Mehmet Okur and Orlando Magic forward Hidayet Turkoglu pledging their allegiance, he has plenty of reason to be optimistic.
Turkey will also be keen to make a big impression in Belgrade as they lay the foundations for hosting FIBA World Championship 2010.
Difficult Draw For Germans
15 January 2005
Germany may boast the exquisite talents of Dirk Nowitzki but they still face a tough job of surviving the group stage at Eurobasket 2005.
Germany, who have won the gold medal only once - in 1993 when they beat Russia by a point - are paired with Italy, Ukraine and the Russians in Group A.
National team coach Dirk Bauermann said: "This is without doubt a very strong group which will make life hard for us.
"It doesn't change our goal of reaching the next round, however. At this level of competition, it's not a question of strong or weak opponents.
"All of our opponents are very interesting, with Italy being silver medallists (at the Athens Olympics) and Russia and Ukraine playing "Eastern-block" style of basketball.
"The fact that we've beaten Italy and Ukraine in our last encounters doesn't really make us favourites.
"Especially Ukraine, whom we've beaten in the last two matches, they still have some good players in hand.
"In Serbia & Montenegro, the results from the qualification won't matter any more."
Germany and Russia may not have the best teams, but they do have possibly the top two players in Nowitzki and Andrei Kirilenko, respectively.
Nowitzki is one of the biggest stars in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks, while Kirilenko is the leading man for the Utah Jazz although he is currently injured and out of action.
Bauermann has been keen to stress that his side is not a one-man team but Nowitzki is so good that he nearly always overshadows his team-mates.
Dr Wolfgang Hilgert, vice-president of the German Basketball Federation, said Germany would have to deal with a variety of playing styles when they tackle the opposition in Group A.
"Ukraine and Russia will play a strong, physical type of game while Italy will be more technical and smoother," said Hilgert.
Germany qualified for Eurobasket 2005 in Belgrade from September 15-25 with a 100% record.
They won all six matches, including two easy victories over Ukraine, beating them 81-61 in Kiev and 95-69 at home.
"It will be a different thing in September. Most of the games will depend on how teams perform on the day," said Hilgert.
He says Russia will provide strong opposition but Italy, under the steady hand of coach Carlo Recalcati, are likely to provide Germany with their sternest test.
"In recent years, Italy have become stronger and stronger," he said.
Germany were eliminated from the last European Championships by Italy at the quarter-final stage and as such missed out on a place at Athens.
Meanwhile, Hilgert said the build-up to Belgrade in September had already been worked out.
"We will participate in the Acropolis tournament in Athens at the end of August," said Hilgert.
"We will then compete in the Supercup tournament in Germany, followed by two friendlies at home."
Zuletzt bearbeitet: