By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sports should not be confused with politics. However that’s just wishful thinking. Many times in the past World Cups there were games between national teams, in which people didn’t talk only about basketball. Eurohoops presents those “special” World Cup games.
1982, 1986 Soviet Union – USA (World Cup Finals)
Soviet Union and USA met twice in the World Cup final. Both games had some particularities because of the “cold war” era between the two countries. In Colombia (1982) Soviet Union beat USA 95-94 and won the World Cup. Four years later USA got their revenge by beating Soviet Union 87-85 in Madrid. Three years after their last match the “cold war” between the two countries officially ended.
1994 Greece – Germany (match for groups)
Germany’s National Team’s match against Greece on August 4, 1994 has its own historical importance, as it is the first in World Cup after the union of East and West Germany. One day later against Puerto Rico united Germany registered its first victory (81-74). Back in 1986 – actually this was its first ever participation – German’s national team played as West Germany.
1994 Russia – Croatia (World Cup semi-final)
In 1994 Russia faced Croatia in the World Cup semi-final. Four years before that Russia was a member of Soviet Union, while Croatia was a member of Yugoslavia. That made the semi- final more than special. Russia won 66-64 and Sergei Bazarevich – who later even got a Greek password – had a great tournament. Croatian star Dino Radja was a member of the all tournament team.
1998 Serbia – Russia (World Cup Final)
Serbia and Russia faced each other in World Cup final in Athens in 1998, bringing back memories from previous decades, when Yugoslavia and Soviet Union dominated the world basketball scene. Serbia won 64-62 and Dejan Bodiroga was the most valuable player of the tournament.
Greeks’ jeers during the Serbian’s national anthem because of their complaints about referees in semi-final between the two countries one day before were an unexpected incident. Just a year later during the bombing of Serbia by NATO, Greeks would support the inhabitants of the neighboring country offering humanitarian aid and tightening even more the bonds between the two nations.
2002 Serbia – Argentina (World Cup Final)
Basketball is not about politics, but sometimes coincidences are strange and unique. Three years after the bombing of Serbia by NATO, the Serbs won the World Cup in America beating Argentina (84-77) in the final. Predrag Stojakovic had a great tournament, while Dejan Bodiroga was the man of the final. It was one of the best World Cup finals, although Argentinians had many legitimate complaints from the refereeing of the match.
2010 Argentina – Brazil (knockout game for “16”)
Matches between Argentina and Brazil are always special in all sports. In 2010 in Turkey, both countries qualified for knockout games, where they met each other one step before the quarter finals. Argentina won 93-89. What made the game even more unique was the fact that Argentine Ruben Magnano, the architect of the “Gold generation” team of Argentina, was sitting on the bench of Brazil.