Greece complicates the qualification for the World Cup for a very inexperienced Spain

Spain, a talented team but lacking maturity, fell with pride in Athens, at the legendary OAKA, against Greece in overtime (108-106). Chus Mateo’s team has suffered three consecutive defeats in the qualifying matches for the 2027 Qatar World Cup. The upcoming windows, in November and February, will decide the future of this squad that is in full transition towards the Los Angeles Games.

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Spain came out somewhat inhibited after the defeat against Portugal. The burden was heavy and the team seemed to move forward in the midst of the fog, not knowing where to go, what to do, not understanding why their first shots weren’t falling and watching Spanoulis’ team pull away (13-4).

The entry of Saint-Supéry, Cárdenas, and Aday Mara lifted Spain and with the giant in the paint, Greece, for the first time in the entire game, had to think about how to solve a problem. This had not happened in the entire first quarter. In six minutes, the Maño center became an uncomfortable agent and Spain took the lead.

Chus Mateo needs to fine-tune the roles. Mara keeps demanding a bigger role with his play. None of the point guards felt dominant and the game, consequently, suffered. Spanoulis responded with a lineup to dirty up the game and on offense relied on an inspired Konstantinos Mitoglou (7 of 10 on three-pointers), who dealt four blows to Spain’s hopes from beyond the arc.

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Time exposed Spain’s shortcomings. The team arrived very green to these windows. Many teammates don’t really know how Aday Mara plays, whom they have seen very little. There is also no discipline on defense. This is not created in three days. It takes time and persistence. Greece detected their weaknesses, their fears, and pressed the issue in the third quarter to sound the first alarm (67-58).

Greece reached a 12-point lead already in the last quarter. Calathes was running the game on his track. Everything under control. But then came Spain’s character, which reacted thanks to Cárdenas, Saint-Supéry, Parra, and Aday Mara, who expands as the minutes go by (he finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds). Juancho Hernangómez forced overtime. Brizuela pulled the team, but Calathes’ control and the accuracy of Mitoglou and Dorsey decided the match. Brizuela had a shot to win the game, but missed.

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