Spain is facing USA in the fifth and last duel of preparation that the team of Sergio Scariolo in its set-up to dispute the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This friendly, unlike the others, is made against the great candidate to win the Olympic gold who is looking for his fourth consecutive wound. The game will be played on US soil and from there it will serve as a catapult to travel to Japan, where starting on the 23rd, some Olympic Games where Spain aspires to everything.
The Spanish team aspires to win a medal in men’s basketball and there is no better preparation for the Olympic Games to be measured against the great dominator of world basketball, who of course share aspirations and objectives with the national team. For this match, a Pau Gasol who had a rest day in the second consecutive friendly that he played Spain in view of France, as well as a Alex Abrines that due to physical problems was not present.
The team trained by Sergio Scariolo they faced France for the second consecutive time, which they defeated in the first match 86-77 and in the second by 79-87. Spain is on a tour of preparation of a total of five games, which began on July 3 and ends this morning, where it has gone from less to more in terms of difficulty of its rivals. Every time this preparation of five friendlies ends, Spain has confirmed that it will leave for Tokyo to play the Olympic Games on next day 23. With this friendly against the great favorite, the preparation for the one indicated to arrive in Japan, where the opening ceremony will have already been held and all the sanitary mechanisms imposed by the organization will be carried out.
Spain has already played against Iran on Valencia, which was defeated by a forceful 88-61. The game was repeated days later in Madrid, on July 5. The Spanish team also gave no option and won by 96-53. Again, this good version stood before France, both in the first game, played in national territory, and in the second, played in Paris.
In this second duel against France you could see a huge game of Ricky Rubio, which has appeared in the fourth quarter to lead the team to victory with 16 points in the latter period. Undoubtedly, the participation of the base of the Minnesota Timberwolves will be essential for Spain to achieve the medals in the Tokyo Olympics.
In addition to this friendly match, which took place in Paris, this last test for selection is pending, where it is measured in Las Vegas to USA, in which it will be the last preparation meeting for Tokyo. The combined of Gregg popovich It is still in the making and this could be seen in the surprising defeat they suffered 87-90 in their first friendly against Nigeria, that surprised them from the triple, where they got up to 20 shots.
Pau Gasol returns in this match after having a break in the second match against France. With the aim of reaching the best possible way Tokyo, the pivot of Sant Boi knows that at 40 years of age it is necessary to know how to rest. In addition to the absence of Juancho Hernangómez definitively, due to an injury to his clavicle in the first friendly preparation against France, the return of Alex Abrines of some muscular discomfort another positive news for Scariolo.
When is the United States – Spain played?
The game is played at dawn on Sunday 18
to Monday July 19, at 3.00 hours
Where to see the United States – Spain?
The encounter can be seen by Four, channel of Mediaset. You can continue in the game for the Mundo Deportivo website.