The FIBA World Cup quarterfinals are here, and Jordi Fernandez, the Spanish coach at the helm of Canada’s basketball team, shared his thoughts ahead of their showdown against Slovenia.
Canada was considered one of the top favorites even before the FIBA World Cup began. Now, the onus is on them to prove it, with Slovenia as their quarterfinal opponents.
Under Fernandez’s guidance, Canada boasts a roster brimming with talent and physically dominant players.
Canada ๐จ๐ฆ and Slovenia ๐ธ๐ฎ have plenty more to offer beyond Shai and Luka in their bid to rewrite history at the World Cup ๐ฅ#FIBAWC x #WinForAll
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) September 6, 2023
“We are facing a team that seems to enjoy playing together. Slovenia has had a similar squad for a while, winning the European Championship and competing in the Olympics. It won’t be easy, but we are confident. We aren’t thinking about the future, only the next game. We’ve told ourselves we need to win three sets of one victory each,” Jordi Fernandez said.
Of course, it’s no secret that Luka Doncic is the biggest threat on the opposing side.
“This would help us achieve our goal. It’s clear that Luka Doncic is the main danger for Slovenia. But we have tactical ideas on how to limit him. I believe in my players. In my opinion, we are the best defensive team in the tournament,” said the Canadian coach.
The Slovenia vs. Canada match is scheduled for Wednesday at 2:40 PM. The winner of this clash will face Serbia in the semifinals.