Second consecutive World Cup without a title for Team USA: “It’s not 1992 anymore!”

Is this really an achievement? Is this really still a surprise? Undefeated on the international stage between 2008 and 2019, the United States was defeated in an official match for the fifth time in four years: twice during the 2019 World Cup (France and Serbia), once during the 2021 Olympic Games (France) and twice during this 2023 World Cup. Certainly crowned Olympic champion in 2021 thanks to the sole talent of Kevin Durant in the final, Team USA will not be world champion for the second time in a row. Proof that the Americans, once so dominant, no longer have any margin over the rest of the planet and can no longer afford to send Bobby Portis Jr. or Hosh Hart in the hope of subduing the rest of the world.

“Unrealistic to ask the same players to play summer after summer”

“Our defeat shows to what extent basketball has become globalized over the past 30 years”indicates coach Steve Kerr, who will have to be satisfied, at best, with bronze for his first international campaign in the role of coach. “These matches are difficult. It’s not 1992 anymore. Players all over the world are better. The teams are better. It’s not easy to win a World Cup or an Olympic Games. »

However, as during their seventh place in 2019, this disillusionment should not call into question the American model, where only the Olympics serve as the standard competition. The World Cup remains neglected, often the prerogative of a rejuvenated team, of a C team. Thus, no member of the Top 20 of the highest American salaries in the NBA has made the trip to the Philippines, the first being Brandon Ingram, 23rd in the said ranking. Of the twelve Olympic champions in Tokyo, there were none left in Manila. A permanent renewal which has always been the way Team USA operates but which is increasingly detrimental to it, especially in the face of selections which are used to building over time, like… Germany.

“This team would have deserved to win the title”

“I don’t know how we could have this continuity”admits Steve Kerr. “It’s unrealistic to ask the same 10 players to play summer after summer. The tradition with USA Basketball is to always hand over to the next coaching staff, to the next group of players. It works differently from other countries. We have talent, a lot of good players, all of whom, like the coaches, deserve to have the honor of one day wearing the national jersey. As it happens, this World Cup has been an incredible experience for all the players, both in representing their country and in the development of their careers. I couldn’t be more proud of my players, their commitment, their approach over the last five weeks. This team would have deserved to win the title, we just didn’t know how to do it. But that’s not going to stop me from saying that this band was incredible. »

When Andy Obst takes down Team USA

At a press conference, Steve Kerr recognized the superiority of the Mannschaft, victorious 113-111. “Well done to Germany, they had a fantastic match, they played better than us and they deserve to win. As soon as we had a series, they found a solution: a big shot, an offensive rebound, a big action. They did what they had to do. My players were courageous, fought, gave themselves a chance to win but we couldn’t finish. Our defense was the main factor in the defeat. We were never able to stop them. You have to give a lot of credit to Dennis Schröder: he was very hard to defend, he is fast, penetrates constantly and is always putting the opposing defense in danger. We made mistakes from the start: for example, I remember the first offensive rebound: we didn’t make the effort even though that’s when we should set the tone and Obst scored a three-pointer. He was the key to the match. We targeted him from the start, we didn’t control him and he hurt us. »

In Manila,