Germany ended a 31-year wait for continental glory with a dramatic 88-83 victory over Turkey in the EuroBasket 2025 final on Sunday, delivering a masterclass in late-game composure led by captain Dennis Schröder.
In a pulsating, back-and-forth contest in front of a raucous crowd, the reigning FIBA World Cup champions showed resilience, discipline, and nerves of steel to clinch their first EuroBasket title since 1993.
Schröder, who had been quiet by his standards for much of the evening, came alive in the final two minutes, sinking a crucial pull-up jumper with 19 seconds remaining before icing the win with two high-pressure free throws after being fouled on the rebound. The 31-year-old finished with a clutch performance when it mattered most, underlining his credentials as one of Europe’s elite guards.
“Dennis put us on his back when it mattered most,” said head coach Gordon Herbert. “That’s what leaders do.”
The game began in frenetic fashion, with both teams trading blows in a high-octane first half that featured a flurry of three-pointers and physical defense. Turkey, powered by Cedi Osman’s sharpshooting and Alperen Sengun’s post presence, took a six-point lead into halftime.
But Germany stormed back early in the third, tightening their defense and moving the ball with greater precision. Isaac Bonga was pivotal down the stretch, making key defensive stops and grabbing a critical offensive rebound to keep Germany in control late in the game.
Turkey, despite being hampered by Sengun’s foul trouble, kept pressing. Sengun returned in the fourth quarter and made an immediate impact, scoring and drawing a charge to swing momentum. Osman, who hit six threes on the night, extended Turkey’s lead to six with under four minutes to go, but they could not maintain their composure in the face of Germany’s relentless pressure.
A fourth foul on Sengun opened the door for Germany. Bonga scored to give his side the lead, and from there, Schröder took over — first with a driving layup, then with the dagger jumper and finally sealing the result from the line.
Turkey’s final attempt — a contested three by Sengun — bounced off the rim as Germany celebrated a famous win.
In the bronze medal match, Greece held off a stunning late rally from Finland, nearly squandering a 15-point lead in the last four minutes before securing a nail-biting 92-89 victory to claim third place.
For Germany, the win completes a remarkable period in their basketball history, adding the EuroBasket crown to their 2023 World Cup title. After decades in the shadows, they now sit atop European basketball once again — and deservedly so.
