World Cup qualification for 2027: German basketball players with a clear home win in World Cup qualification
Germany’s basketball players have won with a clear victory befitting their status Cyprus The first phase of World Cup qualification has been completed. Led by NBA star and captain Dennis Schröder, the team defeated their opponents from the Mediterranean island 111:79 (56:31). It was the fifth win in the sixth qualifying game – the Germans had suffered their only defeat so far away against Croatia in February.
Of course, this danger did not exist against the basketball dwarf from Cyprus. In Bamberg, Schröder was the best thrower for national coach Alex Mumbrú’s team with 20 points. In front of 5,713 spectators, Christian Sengfelder (19), Kay Bruhnke (16) and Sananda Fru (13) also scored double figures.
Now against Poland, Netherlands and Latvia
On the way to the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, where the German Basketball Association (DBB) team wants to defend its 2023 title, the second qualifying phase continues. There are games against Poland, the Netherlands and Latvia in August, November and then March 2027. Schröder and Co. were already qualified for this phase before the Cyprus match – but because the points were taken from the first phase, this victory also counted.
Three days after the 92:86 away win over Israel in Riga, Latvia, the favorite faced the world number 70. only surprisingly difficult at the beginning. Due to a few mistakes and good distance throws from the guests, Germany only went into the first quarter break with a 22:21 lead.
Captain Schröder: “Every game is important”
Coach Mumbrú did without a number of top performers; NBA veteran Schröder (Cleveland Cavaliers) was the only world champion in the squad. Of the gold team for the 2025 European Championships, only Leon Schieber, who was recently unsuccessfully under contract with FC Bayern, was there. Other NBA stars like Franz and Moritz Wagner or Bayern professionals Andreas Obst and Johannes Voigtmann got a break.
Schröder, however, didn’t miss the games; he has accepted the national coaches’ invitations every summer since 2017. “Every game is important, qualification or not,” he said at MagentaSport. «You should represent the German eagle well. That’s why I’m here.”
Class difference from the second quarter
And from the second quarter onwards, the 32-year-old showed that he wasn’t in the mood for an exciting match. The captain led the DBB selection to an 18-1 run, and at halftime the favorites were, as befits, ahead by 25 points. The lead later grew to up to 35 points. Germany couldn’t let its victory be taken away from it.
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