“They're here to win gold.”

Latvia, with 3,000 fans in the stands of Indonesia Arena who didn't mind traveling around the world to watch their team, had the audacity to challenge Canada after a first quarter of fireworks, frenetic basketball and numerous three-pointers. After a while, on their way to the locker room, they were displayed with their heads down and torn apart, as if they had been run over by a tractor.

He admitted: “It was a tough defeat. They started to give everything they could… They have a very good team, with a lot of talent. You have already seen it. I see them winning the gold medal and challenging the United States.” Roland Smits After obtaining 88 points in the last three quarters to lose by 26 (101-75), influenced by the combination of talent and physical strength managed by the Spaniard. Jordi Fernandez.

Canada has been warning for a long time. The list of players with the potential to make an impact in the NBA has been enormous in recent years, but it was necessary to put it all together and impress the stars. Nurse NickThe previous coach never achieved that. But this time seems to be the final time and that Jamal Murray He was unable to reach the World Cup.

Doesn't matter, there looks impressive Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderNomination for the best player award in the tournament (against Latvia, 27 points, six rebounds and six assists), RJ Barrett, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Shay's cousin), Dillon Brooks, Dwight Powell or Kelly OlynykIt's all thanks to the wisdom of the Spaniard from Badalona who will soon become the NBA's first bench coach.

Next Sunday, Spain will meet the Canadians, to whom it lost in the preparatory tournament in Granada (80-85) a few days ago. It can be all on the line or when both of you have a calculator on hand. If the team performs its duties on Friday against Latvia, it will be in Manila. If they also beat Canada and finish first in the group, the United States will be waiting in the virtual semifinals. If it finishes second, it is expected to be Italy or Serbia. The quarter-final matches will be held in Australia, Germany and Slovenia.

Right now, Canada is scary. On the first day, after a tight first half, they swept France (95-65) to such an extent that the Gauls were devastated in Indonesia, and were eliminated with a huge internal crisis before their matches. The second, against weak Lebanon, with an epic victory (73-128), breaking the record for the number of assists in a World Cup match (44). And this Tuesday, it was the turn of the Latvians, who came at the highest moral level after they overthrew France.