Germany full of guarded optimism ahead of FIBA EuroBasket 2017

HAGEN (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - There is a fine line between success and failure for a national team like Germany, and captain Robin Benzing knows it.

All one needs to do to appreciate that fact is to reflect on the Germans' FIBA EuroBasket 2015 campaign. The Group B hosts opened their tournament with a 71-65 victory over Iceland.

Yet they lost their next four games by a combined 15 points and did not progress from the Group Phase.

The two most excruciating defeats came against Serbia and Spain. Germany suffered a 68-66 setback to the former and fell, 77-76, to Spain in their last game.

The Serbians finished the event in fourth place while Spain captured their third FIBA EuroBasket crown since 2009.

So despite the hoopla about Germany's qualification for this year's event and the fact that the squad will be two years older with a starting NBA point guard in Dennis Schroder, Benzing's optimism about this year is guarded.

"There are many who say we have to play for a medal," Benzing said in an interview published on the German Basketball Federation website. "I'm a little more cautious with predictions. We have the potential to reach the Quarter-Finals, maybe even the Semi-Finals, but we have to go through the Group Phase first and then we continue."

Germany are in a tough Group D, which includes 2015 finalists Lithuania; a hometown team in Israel that is determined to impress in their maiden tournament as hosts; an always dangerous Italy who are seeking to avenge the disappointment of missing out on the Rio Olympics in overtime; and a Georgian team that has become a staple of Final Rounds in recent years.

If you look at how we have played against the top European teams, then surely this has created hopeMaxi KleberMaxi Kleber

"We have a tough but manageable group, not quite as strong as 2015," Benzing said. "We have a talented team, but I have to be a bit cautious with predictions, I have the right and the duty. It is still the EuroBasket. You will not be given a game."

What should help Germany is the likely return of Maxi Kleber, the 6ft 9in (2.07m) forward who oozes with talent but has been limited by injuries. He was hurt two years ago and unable to play. Kleber showed for Bayern Munich this season that he can help with both his offense and defense.

"2015 was incredibly bitter, because this was a huge event in Berlin which I had imagined quite differently," Kleber said. "It really annoyed me that I could not be there, but the injury prevented that. In 2016 (during FIBA EuroBasket 2017 qualifying), I simply needed the summer to come back and recover from the injury."

Kleber says Germany have every reason to be upbeat.

"If you look at how we have played against the top European teams, then surely this has created hope," he said. "These were all close games...We have a very young team...it will be important first to find continuity."

Benzing is hopeful that Germany will be better for the pain endured in 2015.

"The experience from close games always helps: in the right situation, play the right play, get an important stop, just stay calm," he said. "In 2015, we were perhaps a bit too hectic at the crucial moments.

"The more experienced teams such as Spain or Italy know where the ball is going. This experience will help us. Many of the guys now have more self-confidence than two years ago."

FIBA