On a day like today but in 2004, exactly 19 years ago, the Argentine basketball team beat Italy in the final of the 2004 Olympic Games and won the gold medal. Before, in the semifinals, they defeated nothing more and nothing less than the NBA Dream Team, United States. That same day, earlier in the day, soccer also won the gold medal —the first in its history—, but basketball had shaken the world sport.
The United States is without a doubt the great world power in basketball, both men’s and women’s. There is no possible discussion about this. Men are the top winners of World Cups with 5 consecrations, like the extinct Yugoslavia, and Olympic gold medals with 16 gold medals. The North Americans won 7 of the last 8 Olympic Games.
Precisely, today marks the 19th anniversary of the day the Golden Generation of Argentina made history in that Olympic final against Italy, but not before beating the NBA stars. In fact, the Albiceleste had just defeated the Americans in the 2002 World Cup semifinal, where the rivals were hosts.
Emanuel Ginóbili’s popcorn against Serbia and Montenegro at the end; suffering from the incredible bombings of the New Zealander Pero Cameron; Andrés Nocioni’s dunk on Yao Ming against China; Walter Herrmann’s saving appearance against Greece; Hugo Sconochini’s sash pass and Alejandro Montecchia’s one-handed reception against the Dream Team; Luis Scola’s two-handed shot —courtesy of Pepe Sánchez— in the last seconds of the final with Italy. Indelible memories of a historic tournament.
Argentina vs United States at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games
The first quarter was even: Emanuel Ginóbili stood out in Argentina with 10 points and Tim Duncan, his teammate in San Antonio Spurs, in the United States with 8 points. In the second quarter, Argentina took advantage of Duncan’s departure for charging two fouls, to reach halftime with a 9-point advantage (42-33).
In the third quarter, with Duncan back on the court, Ginobili further expanded his figure and added another 15 points. In their attempt to react, the North American team managed to achieve a 12-2 that put them 6 points behind their rival (60-54), but those led by Rubén Magnano resisted the onslaught and responded with two consecutive triples from Alejandro Montecchia and Rubén Wolkowyski and a four-point play by Ginóbili to close the third 70-57.
In the fourth quarter, with 5 minutes remaining, the United States lost their tower, Duncan, for reaching five fouls. The Argentines handled the last few minutes very well and their victory was not at risk.
Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Richard Jefferson, Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Lamar Odom, Emeka Okafor and Dwyane Wade made up the American squad that Argentina beat in a very good way.
Matches of the Argentine basketball team in the Olympic Games Athens 2004
Group stage
Argentina 83 vs Serbia y Montenegro 82España 74 vs Argentina 72Argentina 82 vs China 57Nueva Zelanda 94 vs Argentina 98Italia 76 vs Argentina 75
Quarter finals
Grecia 64 vs Argentina 69
semifinals
Argentina 89 vs United States 81
Final
Argentina 84 vs Italia 69
Players of the Argentine basketball team in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games
4. Juan Sanchez5. Emanuel Ginobili6. Alejandro Montecchia7. Fabrizio Oberto8. Walter Hermann9. Gabriel Fernandez10. Hugo Sconochini11. Luis Scola12. Leonardo Gutiérrez 13. Andrés Nocioni14. Carlos Delfino15. Ruben Wolkowyski
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2023-08-28 20:40:57#years #Argentina #beat #United #States #Dream #Team #NBA #Gold #Medal #Athens
