Croatia’s head coach Damir Mulaomerovic praised Lauri Markkas after the loss to Finland. The journalists’ speculation and the referees got the ball rolling.
BERLIN.
The Berlin arena had an intense atmosphere when Susijengi had made history and reached the quarterfinals of the European Basketball Championships. The last time the Finnish men’s national basketball team was among the top eight in the European Championships was in 1967.
Finland defeated Croatia in the playoff opening with 43 points Lauri Markkanen under. In the end, the numbers 94–86 in favor of Finland stood out on the board.
In the final round of the preliminary group, Croatia’s action had stirred up, when the NBA star and Lauri Markkanen, who is enrolled in Utah Bojan Bogdanovic missed a free throw against Ukraine in the dying moments. After that, Ukraine scored another basket, so Croatia won by five points. This meant Croatia dropped to third in their group behind Greece and Ukraine.
For example, Urheilu’s expert Antero Lehto and the playmaker legend who belongs to the Finnish coaching Teemu Rannikko were directly of the opinion that Bogdanovic deliberately missed the free throw.
Croatia’s shenanigans meant that the team faced Finland instead of Poland in the quarterfinals. Croatia would also, above all, have avoided champion candidates Serbia and Slovenia in the playoff chart until the final. Now the Croatians no longer have to stare at the playoff chart.
“It’s full of potash”
Croatia had already suffered two defeats against Finland in the World Cup qualifiers. Now the foursome of the 2013 European Championships suffered their third loss to Finland within a year.
Urheilu asked the head coach of Croatia From Damir Mulaomerovicwhat he thinks about the gig now after the loss.
– Don’t listen to such speculation. It’s complete bullshit. It would have been difficult for us against Poland as well, Mulaomerovic answered and still denied the prank.
According to Mulaomerovic, Croatia had prepared well for Markkanen’s defense, but praised the Finn as difficult to stop.
– Markkanen was incredible today. We tried everything against him and changed the defense, Mulaomerovic praised.
Croatia’s nerve control was lost at times, as the team sometimes focused on shouting mistakes at the Finnish players. Moments later, at the press conference, Mulaomerovic also flashed his dissatisfaction with the refereeing in front of the international media.
– There were some strange whistles from the judges at the decision moments. I’m not saying they decided the match, but everyone complained, Mulaomerovic claimed.
Markkanen as the center of international attention
Lauri Markkanen received a lot of attention at the international press conference. Markkanes was asked if he is bothered by less attention than the superstars of Greece, Slovenia and Serbia Giannis Antetokounmpo, With Luka Doncic and On Nikola Jokic.
Markkanen is third in the point statistics of the European Championships with an average of 27.8 points. Antetokounmpo leads the way with his 29.5 points per game average. Doncic has scored 28 points per game.
– I’m just trying to help the team and the right things on the basketball court. I don’t look at the stats. I’m just happy that we’re in the top eight and we’re trying to move forward, Markkanen stated in his calm style.
Also from Finland’s head coach Lassi from Tuov a similar question was asked, whether Markkanen should be included among the greats of these European Championships alongside Donicic, Antetokounmpo and Jokic.
– Maybe, but Lauri doesn’t want or need anything. As long as he can only be a normal player in the tournament, and there is no extra spotlight, Lauri is pretty good, Tuovi said.
Finland will meet Spain in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. shows all Susijeng’s matches live.
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Comment: These words of Lauri Markkanen in the middle of the match tell everything about Susijengi’s giant bang – a trick that seemed impossible was successful