MADRID, September 6 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The teams of Germany and Canada completed this Wednesday the quartet of semi-finalists of the World Basketball Championship, which is played in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, after beating Latvia (81-79) and Slovenia (100-100) in the quarter-finals. ), respectively.

Thus, the triumph of the German team and the defeat of Slovenia means that Germany and Serbia, who reached the semi-finals on Tuesday after beating Lithuania, already qualify directly for the Olympic Games in Paris next year. .

Germany maintained their unbeaten status in this World Cup after finishing, with suspense, with Latvia who were on the verge of extending their dream, thanks to the match of Artur Zagars (24 points and 8 assists) and Davis Bertans (20), while in the Germans the coach had to remove his star, Dennis Schroder, from the field, who finished with 9 points and a horrible 4/28 in shooting, with 0/8 in triples.

But the German team found a way to rebuild, supported by players like Franz Wagner (16 points and 8 rebounds) or Daniel Theis, in a very close duel until the last quarter. At that time, the rise in defensive intensity of Gordon Herbert’s men collapsed the Latvian team, which found itself ten points behind. However, Zagars came back and with an 8-0 run he approached a Latvia who had scored three points at Bertans’ buzzer to make history. Germany, 21 years later, return to the top four and will challenge the United States.

For its part, Canada put an end to the adventure of Luka Doncic in a very close match until the last ten minutes, where the physical difference was excessive for the Europeans, where their star (25 points) could not compete with that of his rival, once again a star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points and 10 rebounds) and a finer shot.

After the long win over Spain, the Canadians started against the Slovenians with an extra walk, looking for quick transitions and liberated pitchers taking advantage of the two-on-one they made to their brilliant point guard. But despite the good functioning of the attack, the defense conceded too much and after a quarter, the match ended in a punch (26-24).

In the second, Luka Doncic appeared and with a succession of implausible three-point shots and complicated baskets, he gave his team the advantage, taking advantage of the lack of adjustment of the rival defense, even if the swords were still at the top (50 -50). ).

The third quarter was one of Canadian ecstasy, during which they put their victory on track, thanks to a sublime Gilgeous-Alexander, well assisted by a successful RJ Barret (24 points). Canada showed its best attack (30 points), to which was added the defensive adjustment made by coach Jordi Fernández, which dried out Doncic.

The nine-point advantage (80-71) with which the North American team entered the last ten minutes was too disadvantageous for the Slovenians, who also lost the Dallas point guard, sent off with six minutes remaining. . As part of the first World Cup semi-finalists in its history, Canada will face Serbia.