Friendly, this match had only the name! In an electric atmosphere in Malaga, Team USA and theSpainundoubtedly the two great favorites for the gold medal for the upcoming World Cup, indeed offered a match of very good quality, the intensity of which was closer to a match in the final phase than to preparation !
And at the end of this bitter battle, it was the American players who finally won (98-88), thanks to a fourth quarter a bit better controlled than their opponents, thanks in particular to a domination in the field physical and athletic ultimately exhausting and fatal for the locals. As against Slovenia…
However, it was not always very well on board for Team USA, which clearly suffered. Especially in the third quarter, against a Spanish team that defended the lead and completely confiscated the transition phases particularly appreciated by Steve Kerr’s men. Not to mention that the polished attacking game of Spain forced the American players to work in defense, and therefore to use energy.
Of Defense and Movement Among the Americans
But in the end, the offensive talent of the Americans made the difference, slowly but surely, in the last act. Spain, which certainly showed why it was the best team in the world, resisted very well, but the difference in level in the athletic dimension ended up being insurmountable, against the American athletes.
However, despite the victory won with style in the last quarter, Team USA has been warned: nothing will be easy at the World Cup, especially from the final stages…
Next deadlines for the two formations: a good poster against Canada Thursday evening (9:30 p.m.) for Spain, while the United States will challenge Greece in Abu Dhabi the next day.
Photo credit: USA Basketball
