Minutes after the Spanish side’s memorable victory over Lithuania in the Round of 16 of the European Basketball Championship (102-94), twitter Published an adaptation of the mythical quote of the former English footballer of the Championship Gary Lineker: “Basketball is a simple game. Ten men chase the ball for 40 minutes and in the end Spain always wins.”

It’s a statement that perfectly defines what the Spanish basketball team has become, reaching the quarter-finals of the European Championship for the 21st time in a row, surpassing the mark set by the old team. soviet union (20).

And this is perhaps the most unexpected classification.world champion is here euro basketball As a team in transition.Even without stars, with many young people Rudy Fernandez and brothers hernangomez As the only veteran of a team with nine debutants in a continental competition.

few bets Spain in Round of 16 matches Lithuania Led by NBA Center Jonas Valanciunas world Domantas Sabonis.Spain He did it again against all odds.

blackboard of Serge Scariolo Explosion of the nationalized base “Express” Lawrence Brown c.28 points (12 points in overtime), brother honor hernangomez In this area, the experience of Rudy Fernandez and Albert Diaz Replaced injured a few days before the start of the championship Sergio Luluwas part of the name of the victory over the Baltics.

But invisible things like the weight of the shirt also played a role. “one more time, Spain He showed that he knows how to play in important matches,” said the Lithuanian after the loss. Mindaugas Kuzminska.

Recent history is consistent with the Baltic forward. world champion chain 6 european Hanging metal The last time he failed to win a medal at Eurobasket was in 2005. Plus, it’s been 25 years since he dropped in the first round of the championship. Europe.

A period of success coinciding with the emergence of the so-called “golden generation” of brothers Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez as a great reference.

But in Europe today, brothers hernangomez world Rudyare a mainstay of the youth on and off the court and the sole survivor of the 2019 gold medal-winning team china world cup Surprise many people.

The recurring group cohesion in the Spanish dressing room is one of the keys. Young players are infected with the competitiveness of veterans.

“That’s what the veterans have told us over the years. That’s the Spanish sport: energy, guts, intensity. And that’s what sets us apart from other countries,” says the young Pivot. summarized Usman Galba after winning Lithuania.

even an american Lorenzo BrownElected at the last minute, he appears to be one of the group despite controversy over his nationalization at the last minute. Maccabi in Tel Aviv He was an offensive witness and a player who didn’t burn the ball in a crucial moment. “This is really family,” he said after the exhibition.

and the father Serge Scariolo. His tactical talent is beyond doubt.this saturday berlin mercedes benz arena He upset his Lithuanian counterpart by alternating zone defenses that drowned out rivals’ inside games.The proof of this is the N wallNew Orleans Pelicans Jonas Valanciunas I melted into the picture.

Italian coach orders teams to compete on parquet like the football team he was referring to when there is a wealth of talent or at the moment of transition liner: “Football is a sport that is played 11 on 11 and always wins. Germany“.