German basketball players in the quarterfinals against Slovenia - "have no fear" - Luka Doncic

The first quarter-final participation in Olympia for 29 years has not been an end to Germany for Germany's basketball. "I believe that we have a chance against each team. We only have to go out the very best game of the summer," said national coach Henrik Rödl. A few weeks ago, hardly anyone had believed that the team can do without their experienced NBA professionals Dennis Schröder, Maximilian Kleber or Daniel Theis at all after Tokyo.

Now the selection of the German basketball federal government plays on Tuesday in the round of the last eight against Slovenia with NBA superstar Luka Doncic. This revealed the draw on Sunday. European champion Slovenia had recovered his three group games and at the end of 95:87 also prevailed against medal candidate Spain. In a possible semi-final, Germany would meet the winner of the game between Italy and France. The other quarter-finals deny gold-favorit USA against Spain and Australia against Argentina.

The quarterfinals at a glance

"In general, this summer continued took the German basketball," said Moritz Wagner after 76:89 on Saturday against the too strong Australians. Germany took a victory against Nigeria and two defeats against the Boomers and Italy in preliminary round b. As one of the two best groups, it was enough for the first entry into the K.-O. phase since the summer matches in 1992 in Barcelona. In general, the DBB team has come until the third time. In 1984, in the quarter-finals there was the from host USA, eight years later against the Community of Independent States - Rödl was at the 76:83 in Spain still as a player in the parquet.

Can it be enough in Japan for the first time for the semi-finals? For this, the team would have to increase significantly and fit everything. The preliminary round was bumped, especially from the experienced Australians, the limits were clearly shown. "You know how many people are missing here," said Rödl, "That's why it's a special thing to come so far with this team." For the next few years, the enormous potential will make hope, because the association can rely on so many top players as never before. The Franz Wagner (19) or Isaiah Hartenstein (23) acted in the NBA to the Orlando Magic (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers are two more, which are now missing.

Unlike in times of Dirk Nowitzki, there is no superstar anymore, all of which depends. "We have shown great use on the field all summer. We always fight for each other," Andreas Fruit said, describing the greatest strength. It works only in the collective. "We are a team, we want to win the games, we have no fear before that," said the 25-year-old professional of Bayern. And Rödl also praised the team spirit: "They keep extremely together at a level I have rarely experienced in a team."

The German medal winners of Tokyo

With a victory in the qualifying tournament in Croatia, fruits and Co. had solved the OlympiaTicket at the beginning of July at the beginning of July. For all players a dream fulfilled, with great pleasure, they now share their whole new everyday life in Tokyo in the social media. "What we are allowed to experience here is a huge honor, a privilege," Rödl almost humble said, "I feel in the team that they are incredibly happy to be here." The leap into the quarterfinals is "of course the icing on the cake," said Rödl, who absolutely wanted to try "to create the very big sensation".

"That's fun for us now, we'll try everything, give everything and hopefully a great game," said Rödl. Quite realistic, all sorts of opponents are a number too big for world ranking-17. Germany. Be it world champion Spain, the World Cup third France, who won the Olympic prelude sensational against Gold-Favorit USA, or Slovenia with Luka Doncic, the currently best player in the world. And anyway, the look into the future is auspicious, the games in the Saitama Super Arena are long not only for the current team a great motivation.

"You get that we learn a lot of support from Germany that the basketball gets a little push," said Wing Player Danilo Barthel, "We as a team showed that basketball can be fun in Germany and did not make it anymore, which no longer managed gave." After 1992, Germany has so far only with Olympia 2008 - and failed in the preliminary round.