European Basketball Championship: What Dennis Schröder and Co. are playing on the Playstation

When music is playing in the German locker room, it's usually captain Dennis Schröder and Maodo Lo who are playing. German rap can be heard when Schröder is in charge of the music, says teammate Tristan da Silva. "Dennis has very good taste in music," says da Silva. Schröder primarily plays Sosa and Pasha before or after the German basketball players' games or training sessions at the ongoing European Championships in Riga, Latvia.

And even when there is a basketball-free time, the DBB pros, who will face Slovenia and superstar Luka Doncic in the quarterfinals on Wednesday (8 p.m., RTL and Magenta Sport), know how to distract themselves.

Not NBA 2K, a basketball video game, but EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), a soccer video game, is the most frequently played game on the PlayStation. According to da Silva, Schröder and center Leon Kratzer, who has barely played in this tournament so far, are performing best on the console. Isaac Bonga and Justus Hollatz are also "nice."

Otherwise, the German players occasionally spend time together in downtown Riga. Sauna and wellness activities are also part of the team's non-basketball program.

Oscar da Silva went fishing during the preliminary round in Tampere, Finland; his brother Tristan prefers golf. "I'm not a professional, I don't know my handicap. But it's fun. It's cool to spend time in nature and in the fresh air," says da Silva. Dennis Schröder, as always, has his whole family with him, spending a lot of time with his wife and three children. He lets his fans share in his excitement on his Twitch and YouTube channels. Isaac Bonga watches anime series to catch his breath.

Alan Ibrahimagic says he doesn't "have to unwind" on days off. He'll take a "walk" with the coaching staff or "have a coffee" sometimes. Otherwise, the assistant coach keeps busy with basketball. "There isn't as much time as you might think. Preparing for practice, videos, meetings – now come the important games. That's where the focus lies. The rest can wait," he says.

Ibrahimagic represented head coach Alex Mumbru on the sidelines for the five group stage matches. The Spaniard was suffering from an acute abdominal injury but returned on Saturday for the round of 16 match against Portugal. The two shared the responsibility on the sidelines. However, Mumbru did not appear to be in top shape, so he gave way to his assistant in the second half. Ibrahimagic will now also take over as head coach for the remainder of the tournament. The German Football Federation (DBB) announced this on Monday. "Over the last few days, I have realized that I am not physically ready yet," Mumbru is quoted as saying in a press release. He will, however, be on the bench for the matches.

Meanwhile, there was some unrest regarding the German accommodation. Complaints about the team hotel—the team and staff are staying at the Park Inn by Radisson Valdemar—have been mounting in recent days, prompting the German Basketball Federation (DBB) to submit a request to FIBA, the world basketball governing body, to relocate.

"The hotel doesn't meet the requirements for such a tournament. That's why we would like to relocate," said DBB Vice President Armin Andres. Johannes Thiemann and Oscar da Silva also complained publicly, arguing that the rooms were too small and the food inadequate for top athletes.

Furthermore, the four-star hotel is located west of the Daugava River, which more or less divides the city of Riga into two districts. Life takes place primarily on the east side of the river. This is also where the attractive Old Town and the competition venue are located. Noise is also a source of annoyance, as the hotel is located directly on a multi-lane main road.

On Monday afternoon, in response to an inquiry from RND, the German Basketball Association (DBB) stated that a move is off the table. According to "Bild," this is due to financial reasons: The German Basketball Association would have had to pay €120,000 for around 40 rooms. This is too much. The DBB apparently favored the five-star Pullman Hotel near the old town. The Turkish team, a possible semifinal opponent for the German team, is also staying there.