The Spanish National Team Remains Alert Brazil At The FIBA World Cup 2023 Even Though Raul Neto Is Not Strengthened

Spanish men's basketball team. (Photo: Instagram.com/@baloncetoesp)

JAKARTA - The Spanish men's basketball national team will face Brazil in the continuation of the Group G FIBA World Cup 2023 phase. Even without Raul Neto as the mainstay, Brazil is still a team that must still be watched out for by Spain.

The meeting of the two teams will take place at the Indonesia Arena, Senayan on Monday, August 28 at 20.30 WIB. This match has the potential to be decisive in winning the group title.

Unfortunately, in such an important match, the Brazilian national team lost Raul Neto. The point guard suffered an injury in the third quarter of the opening match of Group G between Brazil and Iran.

He suffered an injury to Patella's tendon in his right knee. This incident resulted in him having to leave the field and with certainty that he would not be able to contribute to his team until the FIBA World Cup 2023 ended.

Although Neto was not strengthened last season by NBA club Cleveland Cavaliers, Brazil is still deemed quite dangerous for Spain. This was conveyed by coach Sergio Scariolo when asked about his approach to a crucial game against Brazil.

"Regard to many of the great players in the Brazilian team, from Marcelinho (Huertas) as a great leader, to (Bruno) Caboclo, (Vitor) Benite who is in the best form, (Leonardo) Meindl and (Timothy Luis) Soares who played outstandingly," in a statement from the LOC FIBA World Cup 2023.

"Yago (Santos) is a super talented player and (Lucas) Dias is also a great shooter, a good bigman. I mean, this is a very strong team," he said.

For Scariolo, the thought of breaking into the quarter-finals is still far in the shadow and team. Because right now the most important thing for Spain is to be able to finish the whole game in the group stage.

He said Spain had to go through Brazil in his group and then two opponents in Group H to qualify for the knockout stages. However, it seems that Scariolo did not expect Latvia to beat France.

"We have to go through France, Canada and Brazil which are very, very demanding," he said.

Spain itself is still doubtful about being able to field Alex Abrines. Because the player had a collision in his knee against Ivory Coast in the first match so it was confirmed that he would appear in the second match.