Miguel Méndez, Spanish coach: “We like to play and dance rock and roll”

Miguel Mendezcoach of the Spanish basketball team, indicated that, although they will face very good teams in Group A of the World Cup in Berlin such as the hosts, Germany, Mali and Japan, the national team likes it “play and dance ‘rock and roll'”.

This was stated this Wednesday in the first training session of ‘La Familia’ in the Madrid Golden Trianglewhere they began their preparation for the five friendlies ahead of the month of August, corresponding to the ‘We dream again’ tour, which will serve as a test before the international event.

The first of them will be Germanyon the 15th in Ludwigsburg (Germany); after before Nigeria and Belgiumon the 21st and 23rd respectively, in Tenerife; and finally, before Mali and Chinaon the 29th and 30th at the Príncipe Felipe pavilion in Zaragoza, where they will coincide with the men’s national team.

Already in Berlinwill be measured at Germanyone of the theoretical strongest rivals, Mali and Japan in Group A. With respect, but at the same time without fear.

“We are thinking about the three. In Germany, of course, which is the first game, but immediately after comes Mali, which is going to surprise. They are a very athletic team, with great physical capacity. They are an atypical team that plays little of the basketball that we are used to, it will be a very dangerous game. And the last one with Japan, who beat us in the last Pre-Olympic two years ago,” he analyzed.

“We are very aware that we are going to face three very good teams, but we also know that we have a very interesting team, that is growing, that is getting better every day. We are a team that is capable of playing and dancing ‘rock and roll’, but we are also capable of doing it with other types of music, to continue with the example. At the same time, we are very responsible for the difficulty of the matches we have, but also very confident in our own potential,” he added.

Although Spain arrives at this World Cup after its last participation in 2018, the coach is confident of winning a medal again, since despite the changes, the “DNA” remains: ““We are going to try to win, as we always do, every game we play.”

La Roja, which won the European runners-up last summer, arrives with a mix of young and veteran players, with a little more “pressure”, something that, to a certain extent, it considers “interesting”.

“I believe that this team is capable of coexisting in the face of great challenges and challenges.. There is no more pressure than what they put on themselves to play at the highest level. “I think that’s our biggest goal,” he said.

Although the call is for 21 players, all five from the WNBA, Raquel Carrera, Awa Fam, Alicia Flórez, María Conde and Megan Gustafsonwill join in September with the last ones chosen by Méndez, a circumstance that he hopes will not harm the squad.

“I trust them a lot. They are players who have already been with us, they have played many games and have done many training sessions. They know well what we are looking for, I am sure that in the few days we have before the debut against Germany, we will be able to adapt,” he concluded.

Alba Torrens: “The team has taken a step forward”

Alba Torrenscaptain of the Spanish basketball team, stated this Wednesday that the team, although before the European Championship last summer, was facing a “generational change”, has taken a “step forward”, “player by player“, while he showed his excitement at the possibility of returning to a World Cup.

At 36 years old, the team’s veteran has already played three World Cups with Spain, in which she has won one silver and two bronzes. The team, after not qualifying for the last international tournament, will return to the World Cup event that takes place in Berlin from September 4 to 13 after eight years of absence.

“Right now what I value most is the presence of the team once again at a world event. I think this team has worked hard to compete at the top again. On the verge of a World Cup, I am excited for the team and for many of my teammates. At the same time, with responsibility, commitment and the desire to work to prepare ourselves as best as possible,” he noted.

The Balearic player, who joined Azulmarino Mallorca of the LF Challenge, second national division, in January, acknowledged that she used these months as “preparation” for the World Cup and to be able to help the team.

“Last year we talked about a generational change and this team, player by player, has taken a step forward. We have seen them all compete at a very high level. Despite not having played in a World Cup, the rest of the competitions prepare us. What was done last year (silver in the Eurobasket) has a lot of value for the moment and the way. Now we want to continue growing to compete in our best version,” he said.

“When you have been to a World Cup, now you value it a lot. I think the key is to remove expectations a little, to wait for what will happen and focus on today, tomorrow, in each training session, in each preparation match and focus on ourselves. With the circumstances we have, we want to look positive and prepare well,” he reiterated.

Despite the possible pressure that the recent successes of Spanish sports such as the Men’s Soccer World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico may pose, the captain said that it will serve as “inspiration” and “motivation” for them.