Jordi Fernandez shared his thoughts after Canada’s loss to Brazil at the start of the second phase of the FIBA World Cup.
The Spanish coach emphasized that his team didn’t deserve to win this match and that they are now focusing on analyzing and preparing for the next game.
“Brazil played very tough. We looked good defensively, had our chances, but when you perform poorly on offense, it’s hard to win a game. When you look at the number of assists, turnovers, shooting percentages… we didn’t deserve the victory. We will review the game tape and prepare for Spain. That game will certainly be interesting. We will be ready for the next challenge.”
Jordi Fernandez praised the Brazilian national team for playing a truly warrior-like game.
“They are a physically strong team and defend exceptionally well. This was an important experience and lesson for us, and we will strive to improve.”
Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander standing out as the most effective player for Canada, the Spaniard chose to commend all his players:
“Shai is capable of scoring, organizing the game, and being a good defender, which he demonstrated. These guys are great, they work hard, and they compete at the highest level. We have one more game in this phase ahead of us, and we will be aggressive and fight for victory.”
The game against Spain will be decisive for the Canadians, who, according to Coach Fernandez, are looking forward to that matchup.
“I love my players and believe in them. We will review the game, exchange thoughts, make an effort to get better, and prepare for the next match. You do your job for games like these, where a win takes you further, while a loss eliminates you from the competition. That’s the exciting part, knowing how many people are watching and supporting you on TV. We’re excited about it.”
Canada, Spain, Brazil, and Latvia all have a 3-1 record in Group L, so the head-to-head matchups on Sunday will directly determine who advances.
Canada plays against Spain for their passage, while Brazil expects to face Latvia.