Preview of Germany - Finland in the Eurobasket 2025 semifinals: Can Lauri Markkanen handle the top favorite?

This Friday, September 12th, at 4:00 PM Spanish time, the Eurobasket 2025 will witness one of its most exciting and promising semifinals: Germany will face Finland in search of a spot in the grand final. A duel that will pit two teams with different trajectories against each other but with the same goal: to achieve glory in European basketball.

Germany: Strong Title Contender

Germany has been one of the most impressive teams in the tournament. After a flawless group stage where they dominated teams like Montenegro, Sweden, and Great Britain, they already secured a win against Finland with a convincing 91-61 victory in the group stage. Moreover, in the knockout matches, Germany has showcased their true strength. After comfortably defeating Portugal in the round of 16 (85-58), they achieved a tighter yet equally convincing victory in the quarterfinals, beating Slovenia 99-91, one of the title favorites.

Dennis Schröder, the undisputed leader of Germany, has been instrumental in the team's journey, averaging 20.1 points, 5.9 assists, and a field goal percentage of 47.2%. Franz Wagner, on the other hand, has been a key player both offensively and defensively, with an average of 21 points per game, coupled with an impressive offensive efficiency (48.4% field goal percentage). Additionally, the interior prowess of Daniel Theis and the accuracy of Andreas Obst from beyond the arc ensure that Germany has options to outmatch their opponent from various positions on the court.

As a team, Germany has stood out for their offensive ability, averaging 101.9 points per game, the highest among all teams in the tournament. Their collective play and ability to generate scoring opportunities make them a formidable team, especially in fast breaks and dominating rebounds.

Finland: The Surprise Looking to Make History

On the other hand, Finland enters this semifinal with a historic journey. It is the first time the Finnish team has reached the Eurobasket semifinals, which in itself is an unprecedented achievement for basketball in this country. In the group stage, after defeating Sweden (93-90), Great Britain (109-79), and Montenegro (85-65), Finland suffered a 91-61 loss to Germany. However, since then, their performance has been spectacular, securing key victories in the round of 16 against Serbia (92-86) and in the quarterfinals against Georgia (93-79).

Lauri Markkanen, Finland's star player, has been their primary reference, averaging 24.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Markkanen has been crucial in Finland's journey, both with his perimeter scoring ability and inside game. His 88.3% free throw percentage and 30.4% three-point percentage show he is a complete player capable of deciding games at any moment.

Alongside him, Mikael Jantunen has been a significant ally, with 12 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, standing out for his shooting efficiency (51.7% field goal percentage) and free throw accuracy (90.9%). Sasu Salin, on the other hand, poses a threat from the perimeter with a 48.6% three-point percentage, while the young Olivier Nkamhoua has contributed in rebounds and defense, being vital to the team's balance.

Collectively, Finland has been a team that has excelled in defense and, although not possessing the same offensive firepower as Germany, has found ways to win through a balanced game. Their average of 87.3 points per game demonstrates that they have the tools to compete against any team, but they must be vigilant against Germany's offensive power.

What to Expect?

This matchup between Germany and Finland promises to be one of the most thrilling in recent Eurobasket history. On one side, we have a dominant Germany with one of the most potent offenses in the tournament, supported by experienced players like Schröder and Wagner. On the other hand, Finland arrives with high spirits, as a team that has already made history with its first appearance in the semifinals, aiming to continue their fairytale.

Finland will need to improve in several aspects if they want to defeat Germany, especially in defending the interior game and containing the German perimeter shooters. Collective effort will be key to prevent players like Schröder, Wagner, or Theis from taking over. If Finland wants to surprise, they must rely on Markkanen's leadership and the effectiveness of their supporting players like Jantunen and Salin to stay competitive.

History in the Making

The winner of this encounter will face the winner of the other semifinal, between Greece and Turkey, two teams that have also displayed great quality in the tournament. Undoubtedly, regardless of the final opponent, the path to the title will be challenging.

For Finland, this is a unique opportunity to continue making history. It is their first time reaching the Eurobasket semifinals, and the pressure of getting this far has turned into motivation to fight for the gold.

For Germany, history is even more present. The German team will seek their third final in Eurobasket history, having won the gold medal in 1993 and the silver medal in 2005. One step closer to repeating past successes and, why not, securing a spot in the final for the third time.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Previa del Alemania - Finlandia de las semifinales del Eurobasket 2025: ¿Podrá Lauri Markkanen con la máxima favorita?