Even without a single European champion in the squad, the German basketball players celebrated their second victory in World Cup qualification. Three days after the confident 89:69 against Israel in Neu-Ulm, the German team had more trouble than expected for a half in the 83:64 (42:39) in Cyprus, which was only clear at the end. Nevertheless, the world and European champion is fully on course for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.
The best German throwers were Till Pape and David Krämer with 14 points each. Overall, all players used were included in the points list.
After the win against Israel, the three remaining European champions, Justus Hollatz, Oscar Da Silva (both Bayern Munich) and Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrade), said goodbye to the team. The trio was spared given the high level of pressure in the Euroleague teams. Andreas Obst had already canceled the Israel game due to a minor arm injury. The NBA professionals around captain Dennis Schröder and star Franz Wagner are not available at all in the qualification windows.
Weak first half
And that’s why the recovered national coach Alex Mumbrú had a squad that had never played together like this before. Accordingly, the German team’s game was bumpy in the first half. The guests got off to a decent start and were ahead by eight points early on (12:4). But then the German team, in which Pape and Collin Welp each made their international debut, took the game against the third-tier Cypriots a little too loosely and thus put themselves in trouble.
The hosts, who suffered a bitter 60:100 defeat at the start of the qualifying on Friday in Croatia, now became bolder and put Germany in trouble. After ten minutes the guests were 20:17 ahead, and Germany continued to struggle in the second quarter. At the front the ball didn’t want to fall into the basket, at the back the selection from the German Basketball Federation continued to act unfocused. Even at the break the lead was only three points (42:39).
Increase after the break
But at half-time Mumbrú seemed to have a calming effect on his inexperienced team. After the break, things went much better for the guests. Germany won the third quarter 27:9, putting aside any doubts about their planned victory. The DBB selection now hit better, especially from a distance, and the ball passed through their own ranks much more reliably – also because the hosts’ strength was now dwindling.
The World Cup qualification continues at the end of February/beginning of March 2026 with two games against Croatia. The first three teams in the group of four advance to the next round of qualification. The World Cup in Qatar will take place from August 27th to September 12th, 2027.