Friday's World Cup semifinals saw big upsets, with Serbia first eliminating Canada in a stunningly tenacious game, and Germany then surprisingly beating the favorites USA with a flawless three-setter. The USA will not reclaim the basketball throne this time around either, and will be able to compete for the bronze medal against a team expected to advance to the finals.
Needless to say, it would be a shame if the U.S. team remained without a medal at this world championships, especially after finishing fifth at the global event four years ago, and Steve Kerr's sons vowed to restore honor to their country.
Okay, let's move on to the bronze medal game between Canada and the United States. Canada started the game better, so much so that after a Dillon Brooks double, Dort hit a three-pointer, the Redshirts took an 8-0 lead in a matter of moments. As the game went on, the USA, studded with NBA stars, came close to their northern rivals several times, but by halftime, it was still nine points between them, 34-25.
Photo: Getty Images
In the second quarter, the USA game was more evenly matched, and under the leadership of its biggest star, Anthony Edwards, there was actually a moment when the Americans were four points ahead. Yes, but as the first half approached, Canada turned it around again, and with two threes by Brooks, the half ended with Canada up by two points. The third quarter belonged to Canada again, the aforementioned team featuring Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won this part 33-26, and overall we reached the final quarter with a nine-point lead.
There were 4.2 seconds left in the game, when Miles Bridges took the first of two penalty kick attempts, missing the second with the ball in his hands:
He danced past the three-point line, then changed the score to a crazy three-pointer, and extra time could come.
But in the five-minute overtime, the American renaissance was more or less over, and Canada maintained control of the game, and quickly came out with several baskets, and the USA team was unable to respond, and Canada defeated the USA 127-118, thus obtaining its first World Championship medal in its history.
On the winning team, Brooks finished with 39 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31 points, while on the other side, Anthony Edwards scored 24 points and Reeves 23 points.
Team USA shamefully went medalless in two straight world championships.
Germany is world champion for the first time
Germany met Serbia in the World Cup final. The Germans were preparing for their first World Cup final in history, and in fact, it was. They left nothing to chance on their way to the match in Manila, where they were the only unbeaten team on the pitch and waiting for the starting whistle – among others, they defeated Australia, Slovenia and the United States in the semi-finals.
Despite the great pressure, they did not face the Serbs either, and although the Balkans were better in the first quarter, their three-point advantage diminished in the first half, so the two teams went to the locker room with a score of 47-47.
But after the break, the Germans showed no mercy and increased the score in the third quarter to 22-10, and although the Serbs managed to catch up in the first half, Germany's lead, scored by Dennis Schroeder, was never in danger. (28 points) and Franz Wagner (19 points and 7 rebounds) Under his guidance, he won the first World Championship title in its history.
FIBA Men's World Championship, Bronze Match
United States-Canada 118-127
finals
Germany-Serbia 83-77
(Cover photo: Ezra Akayan/Getty Images)
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