HAGEN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Germany coach Henrik Rodl and the 12 players he coached to triumphs over Georgia and Austria in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers are in the clouds.

They had to survive a tough fight with Georgia on Friday and did, winning 79-70 in Chemnitz. They then made the short trip to Schwechat, near Vienna, and blew away Austria, 90-49.

The 48-year-old coach was so encouraged by his players' work and enthusiasm that he told www.n-tv.de: "We are not afraid of any team in Europe."

"It's incredibly fun to work with the boys, so much motivation, so much energy, that it makes a coach happy," Rodl said.

A FIBA EuroBasket 1993 champion with Germany, Rodl has gone from running up and down the hardwood, making slick passes and hitting jump shots to walking the sidelines and pulling the right strings for his country as a coach.

"WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF ANY TEAM IN EUROPE. IT'S INCREDIBLY FUN TO WORK WITH THE BOYS, SO MUCH MOTIVATION, SO MUCH ENERGY, THAT IT MAKES A COACH HAPPY." RodlRodl

Hailed for his work with young players over the years as a coach in Germany, he has some youngsters in the national team set-up that contributed in the two wins.

Andreas Obst, 21, excelled in the win over Georgia while Dominic Lockhart, 23, shone against Austria. The latter had 10 points and 3 steals in Austria.

"He embodied how we want to play," Rodl said, "with a lot of energy."

FIBA