Icon Dirk Nowitzki clapped happily, the basketball players enjoyed the spontaneous party in the arena in Berlin: Germany's women stormed into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history and are reaching for the medals. “We are in the quarter-finals, which is great. Now we can rest for a day,” said national coach Olaf Lange after the clear 94:56 against the South Koreans who had no chance at all.
National coach: “I don’t have much to complain about”
After the break, on Thursday (5.45 p.m./ProSieben Maxx and Magentasport), European champions Belgium await in the round of the last eight, against whom they lost by 24 points in the European Championship quarter-finals a year ago. “We were totally confident in the last few games,” said Frieda Bühner, who contributed 17 points. The best thrower was captain Marie Gülich with 19 points. “Belgium is a different caliber,” added Bühner.
From the box, Nowitzki saw a safe success on the way to the quarter-finals. «I don't have much to complain about today. We defended outstandingly and played with a lot of commitment and heart. That's not easy against a team like that. I was very, very satisfied,” said head coach Lange. Bühner said she felt “a little goosebumps” after the performance in front of 6,225 spectators.
The party will continue on Thursday. However, the German team is an outsider against the team led by superstar Emma Meesseman, who went straight through as group winners. After the clear opening defeat against Spain, it was the third German victory in a row.
Confident appearance
The DBB selection appeared full of conviction right from the start. “We have found our self-confidence,” Lange said before the game. “There were still a lot of doubts in the first game against Spain. But through the victories against Japan and Mali we have found our faith and believe more in our strengths."
The German team skilfully exploited their physical superiority against the much smaller South Koreans from the start. The hosts kept going to the basket and could hardly be stopped by their opponents. After the first quarter, Germany was ahead by nine points (23:14), and at halftime the game was practically already decided with a score of 46:29.
Fatigue doesn't matter
The German players didn't notice that it was the fourth game in five days. “We are all so excited to play in front of this backdrop that we don’t even think much about how tired we are,” captain Gülich had said beforehand.
Thanks to the clear lead, Lange was able to afford to give his top players a breather again and again, as he had done the day before in the huge win against Mali. All twelve players were used before the break. “It’s very reassuring to know that we have depth,” said Lange.
Strong Gülich
Gülich in particular, who is playing her first games again this summer after a year off due to a torn cruciate ligament, stood out in a united team performance. After 20 minutes she already had 14 points, three rebounds and three assists.
After the break, Germany continually increased their lead. In the third quarter the lead grew to over 30 points. Also because the South Koreans scored poorly from a distance. Nowitzki was able to watch the game calmly in a box at the Uber Arena. The 2011 NBA champions will also return for the quarterfinals against Belgium. Then he should experience a much more exciting game.
