England can make proper preparations

Basketball

DUNCAN HOOPER

The England coach, Laszlo Nemeth, sends his team into tomorrow's European Championship semi-final round with Germany, at Sheffield, denying his players will be worn out after three internationals this week.

"We play far less than they do on the Continent," he said. "Unless we play more games we will never catch them up."

Despite defeats by Belgium (78-72) and Lithuania (95-87), England beat the Dutch 87-72 and can meet the Germans on a relative high. Because of a two-week league break, Nemeth has the luxury, for an England coach, of putting the needs of the national team before those of the clubs.

England play a friendly against Spain, in Huesca on Monday then travel to Portugal for another championship game on Wednesday.