Pau Gasol isn’t afraid of Team USA challenge: ‘We have a unique opportunity to beat them’ / News - Basketnews.com

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Spain will meet Team USA in probably the most anticipated quarterfinal of the Tokyo Olympic Games, and Pau Gasol believes his country has a real shot at beating the Americans.

Pau Gasol

Position:PFAge:41Height:213 cmWeight:113 kgBirth place:Barcelona, SpainProfileNewsStatistics

"We want to show that we are a better team even though they have spectacular individual talent," Gasol said to Mundo Deportivo.“We have to compete for each possession and believe in ourselves, play smart, minimize mistakes.It is a unique opportunity to beat them, to do something very special that we have never achieved in the Games."

Indeed, Spain is yet to beat Team USA in the Olympic Games. Those two countries met in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics finals, and both times the Americans came out on top.

However, Gasol believes that this Team USA isn’t weaker than the previous ones.

"I think they have less than other times,” Gasol continued. “It is true that their preparation has been difficult, with people who have arrived just at the start of the Games, but they are a very strong team. We are going to see if our collective strength, our cohesion as a team, can take precedence over that individual talent.”

The quarterfinal between Spain and Team USA will tip off on Tuesday at 6:40 a.m. CET.

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