According to Usman Garuba, Spain played too soft against Finland in the opening half. According to Sergio Scariolo, Spain had focused on Lauri Markkanen and three other Finnish players.
BERLIN.
– We played really soft, soft, soft, Spain Usman Garuba said directly about Susijeng’s amazing start in the quarter-finals of the European Championships on Tuesday.
Finland already led the match with 15 points at its best, until the reigning world champion woke up. At halftime Susijengi was ahead by nine points. Susigengi scored 52 points in the first twenty minutes. In the European Championship of this millennium, no other team had reached such high numbers in the opening half against Spain.
Garuba said that unprintable text was typed in the Spanish dressing room at halftime.
– You can’t say that here, Garuba said about the content of the halftime discussions.
Already in the quarterfinals, Spain came from 11 points behind Lithuania to victory. Now the same thing happened to Susijeng. Spain won 100–90 and advanced to the semi-finals.
According to Garuba, Spain increased the intensity of the game in the second half and that would guarantee the victory.
– We never give up, we don’t think about the situation, Garuba stated.
Even before the match, the head coach of Spain Sergio Scariolo said that he respects Finland and its game a lot.
– A wonderful tournament from Finland. They were at their best today, Scariolo praised.
According to Scariolo, Finland’s star player Lauri from Markka the intention was to defend so that other Finnish players would not have too much space because of it. Scariolo mentioned separately by name those who, according to him, played brilliantly in the games Sasu Salini, Edon Maxhunin and Petteri Koponen.
– When we calmed down, especially on the offensive end, we realized that we had to distribute the ball better and throw from better places.
Scariolo also saw the statistics as one of the decisive factors in Spain’s rise past Finland.
– Finland scored 19 points because of our poor attacking in the opening half. Not at all in the second half, Scariolo stated.
In Spain, the NBA giant forged the strongest readings Willy Hernangomez with 27 points. After the match, he congratulated and hugged Finnish NBA player Lauri Markka, among others.
– Congratulations to Finland. They did an incredible job throughout the tournament. Today was a tough fight. We tried to prevent 3-pointers, but they made them. We didn’t start the game with the right attitude, Hernangomez told the press conference.
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