GER - Road to Hamburg: German U17 Team faces U18 from France

HAMBURG (2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Men) - The German U17 Team held a very successful training camp last week in Rotenburg which concluded with two impressive wins against Slovakia's U18 Team. Frank Menz' squad performed strong defensively to record an 85-70 in the first game and followed that with a 98-37 demolition in the second.

This week, Germany's team for Hamburg get together in Bad Kreuznach to host another set of test games, with France's U18 team the opponents. The French squad played a tremendous European Championship last year and finished second behind Serbia.

"France has an excellent team with very talented players", said Menz. "They are a tough test for us but this is exactly what we need to get ready for Hamburg."

The games are part of the Youth Programme specially designed for the friendship between Germany and France. The two teams both played at the prestigious Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim this past April. France finished the tournament in 13th place while the German U17 Team took the bronze medal. 

The German U17 team to face France's U18 is as follows: Paul Albrecht (TuS Jena), Besnik Bekteshi (BSG Ludwigsburg), Fabian Bleck (Phoenix Hagen), Anselm Hartmann (TuS Jena), Stephan Haukohl (TuS Jena), Jakob Krumbeck (TuS Jena), Mauricio Marin (IBBA Berlin), Malik Müller (SG Urspringschule), Josip Peric (ALBA Berlin), Johannes Richter (Franken Hexer), Tim Unterluggauer (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Nikolaj Vukovic (TuS Jena), Julius Wolf (SG Urspringschule).

Germany will host the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship from 2nd to 11th July in Hamburg.