The 2005 silver medallists Germany or France will take a big step towards reaching the 2007 EuroBasket quarter-finals as they face off in a Group F battle of teams on the rebound after heart-breaking losses to end the preliminary round.
Both teams enter the qualifying round at 1-1 and the winners of this game know that the quarter-finals would be likely just one win away.
For the losers, a real dogfight for fourth place in the group – which secures the final spot in the knockout stages – awaits.
Last Time Out: In the final game of Group D, France lost to Slovenia 67-66 as Tony Parker only made one of two free-throws with 0.1 seconds left, missing a chance to send the game to overtime. Germany, meanwhile, nearly came all the way back from a 21-point third quarter deficit before losing to Lithuania in the final minute 84-80 in Group C.
Parker had a poor performance
when the two teams met in 2001
Last showdown: Germany beat France 81-77 in the quarter-finals of the 2001 EuroBasket in Turkey, when Parker and Frederic Weis combined for two points in 11 minutes. Nowitzki, however, had already become the focal point of the German attack, scoring 32 points, grabbing seven rebounds while collecting three steals and two blocks as well. All told, six Germans from the 2007 side were on the 2001 squad.
Key Match-up: Parker vs. Steffen Hamann and Demond Greene. Nobody can stop Parker entirely but Hamann and Greene will be responsible for trying to slow down the NBA Finals MVP.
Statistics: Parker and Tariq Kirksay are the only two French players with more than four three-pointers in the tournament and have made 40% of their shots. The rest of the French squad have combined for just seven long bombs at a 28% shooting rate.
X-Factor: Nowitzki will get his points and Ademola Okulaja will chip in his double digits as well. But Germany's chances rely on a third player to step up and that could be second-string center Jan Jagla, who is averaging five points and six rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. If starting center Patrick Femerling can't play much, Jagla may be the man.
Sounding Off: "France are probably the most athletic team in the tournament - as far as quickness and jumping ability. They like to try to play fast. And Tony Parker is probably the most dominating player at this tournament besides Dirk (Nowitzki). They love to play fast, so we have to be stable in our defense and can't play up and down the court with them." - German coach Dirk Bauermann.
