Table of Contents
Germany won their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title on Sunday. They beat Serbia 83-77 in a difficult game in Manila.
It was the first final game in the World Cup with two European teams since 2006.
Germany’s victory was led by Dennis Schroder, who was named the tournament’s MVP. Schroder scored 28 points in the game. He also had two rebounds and two assists.
Germany won the FIBA World Cup in their very first appearance in the final. In 2006, Spain won the FIBA World Cup in their first appearance in the final, too.
For Serbia, it was another tough loss. The last time they were in the final was in 2014 when they lost to the United States.
The game started with the score going back and forth. At halftime, the score was tied at 47 points each. However, Germany started to win in the third quarter.
The Serbian team had some problems. Their starting player Ognjen Dobric got injured in the first quarter. Another important player, Borisa Simanic, couldn’t play because he had surgery after an injury.
In the third place game, Canada won the bronze medal by beating the United States 127-118 in overtime. Dillon Brooks was the star for Canada, scoring 39 points, including seven three-pointers.
The United States didn’t have some of their key players due to illness. In 2019, the United States finished in seventh place.
The win helped Canada qualify for the Summer Olympics for the first time since 2000.
Vocabulary
- Title – the position of being the champion of a major sports competition;
- Beat – to defeat an opponent or win a competition; to win a match/game against another person/team
- Final – The last round/game of a competition
- Victory – win; success; achievement; triumph
- Lead – To be in charge; to guide others
- Name – to choose someone or something; to appoint; to specify
- Tournament – a contest or competition with only one winner after many games/rounds
- Most Valuable Player (MVP) – the player who is contributed/did the most to help the team’s success in a competition or season
- Rebound – When the ball bounces back after hitting something
- Assist – When you help a teammate score a point in a game
- Appearance – The act of taking part in something; When you show up or come to a place; to be participating in a game or event
- Tough – Difficult to do or deal with; hard; not easy
- Loss – the opposite of a win; when you lose a game
- Back and forth – When the lead in a competition or game changes frequently; When one team scores a point, then the other team scores some points, then the other team scores some points again…
- Halftime – The middle of the game when players take a break
- Tied – When both teams have the same score
- Quarter – One of four equal parts of a competition or game
- Starting player – The person who begins the game on the team; a good player
- Injured – hurt; wounded; harmed; to have damage to your body
- Surgery – a medical operation/action to repair or remove part of the body
- Place – position or rank in a competition/tournament; 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, etc.
- Bronze medal – A medal awarded to the third-place finisher in a competition; 🥉
- Overtime – Extra time in a game when it’s tied and they need to play more to decide a winner
- Star – a famous person; main actor in a show or movie; the best person
- Three-pointers – Scoring points by throwing the ball into the basket from far away
- Key – important; crucial; major; essential
- Illness – sickness; When you are not feeling well, like being sick
- Qualify – Meeting the requirements or standards to be eligible or allowed to participate in something; in sports, to win enough points to go to the next round of a tournament
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What are some challenges that a team might face when playing in an international tournament like the World Cup?
- How important is it for a team to have their key players available in a big tournament like the World Cup?
- What are your thoughts on the United States’ performance in the tournament?
- Do you think Germany’s win in the World Cup was a surprise?
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Germany won _____ first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title on _____. They beat Serbia 83-77 in a difficult _____ in Manila.
It was the first _____ game in the World Cup with two European _____ since 2006.
Germany’s victory was _____ by Dennis Schroder, who was _____ the tournament’s MVP. Schroder scored 28 points in the game. He also _____two rebounds and two assists.
Germany _____ the FIBA World Cup in their very first _____ in the final. In 2006, Spain won the FIBA World Cup in their _____ appearance in the final, too.
For Serbia, it was another _____ loss. The last time they were in the final was in 2014 when they _____ to the United States.
The game started _____ the score going back and forth. At halftime, the score was _____ at 47 points each. However, Germany started to win in the third _____.
The Serbian team _____ some problems. Their starting player Ognjen Dobric got _____ in the first quarter. Another _____ player, Borisa Simanic, couldn’t play because he had surgery after an _____.
In the third place game, Canada won the _____ medal by beating the United States 127-118 in _____. Dillon Brooks was the star for Canada, _____ 39 points, including seven three-pointers.
The United States didn’t have some of _____ key players due to illness. In 2019, the United States finished in _____ place.
The win helped Canada _____ for the Summer Olympics for the first time since 2000.
