Austria's basketball team embarrasses itself against Albania in the pre-qualifier duel!

Austria's basketball team embarrasses itself against Albania in the pre-qualifier duel!

Austria's basketball men collected a bitter defeat against Albania on February 23, 2025 in the Multiversum Schwechat. After a weak performance, the team of Coach Chris O’Shea lost 67:78, although it was already the winner of Group C for the next phase of the World Cup pre-qualification. Imran Suljanovic was the best thrower with eleven points, while Luka Brajkovic scored nine points and also scored nine rebounds. The ÖBV selection, which had won over 30 points in the first leg in the previous year, could not build on this strong performance.

The struggle for the World Cup place

The game was characterized by a below -average throw yield; Only three out of 13 attempts within the triple line found their destination until half -time, which underlined the tired performance of the hosts. "Albania was much better from the start to finish. We were not ready to play Albania, play physically, to play as a team. Something like this, I hope we learn from it for the next phase," said O’Shea in orf -interview. Despite the defeat, the team remains optimistic because the next steps in qualification are already certain. At the beginning of March the draw for the second phase, which will be decisive for success on the way to the 2027 World Cup in Qatar

The final round of the World Cup qualification will take place in Katar in August and September 2027, and Austria has never participated in a World Cup before. The efforts to promote the “Winning Mentality” in the team are decisive for Coach O’Shea in order to be successful in the coming phase. As Laola1 will have to develop a new feeling of identity in order to survive in international competition.