Hace 20 años, en Lisboa, un grupo de chavales ilusionaba al ganar el Mundial Junior de Lisboa. Era 1999 y pocos podían imaginar que dos décadas después, aquella selección de imberbes liderada por Pau Gasol y Juan Carlos Navarro iba a marcar una senda que daría los mayores éxitos de la historia del baloncesto español.
Hoy, 15 de septiembre de 2019, esas dos cabezas visibles de Lisboa ya no están (de hecho, ya no queda ninguno de aquel conjunto) pero sí queda su espíritu: el de luchar hasta el final sin miedo a perder.
Dos décadas después, España ya tiene su segundo Mundial de Baloncesto tras el que se consiguió hace 13 años en Japón. De aquel equipo sólo quedan Marc Gasol y Rudy Fernández por la baja de Pau Gasol, lesionado en un pie, que no pudo ir al Mundial de China.
Pero no ha importado, porque España se ha impuesto con la contundencia con la que lo hizo en Japón a Grecia. Esta vez, contra una Argentina en transición como España.
Dos equipos que están mutando la piel se han presentado en la final del Mundial sin que nadie lo esperase, por delante de los grandes favoritos: Estados Unidos y Serbia.
España, campeona del Mundo de Baloncseto
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain celebrate their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (P...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain celebrate their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (P...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain players celebrates after defeating Argentina during the final of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Argentina and Spain at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo b...
Spain's Juan Hernangomez celebrates with their winning trophy at the end of the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by Greg BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GREG BAKER...
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Spain's Sergio Llull celebrates with the trophy after winning the FIBA World Cup REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Spain's Ricky Rubio sits on the court underneath confetti as he celebrates winning the FIBA World Cup with his medal REUTERS/T...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: #9 Ricky Rubio of Spain celebrates after winning the FIBA World Cup - Final match between Spain and Argentina on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Xinyu Cui/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team Argentina reacts after lose the finals between Argentina and Spain of 2019 FIBA World Cup at the Cadillac Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Yanshan Zhang/Getty Images)
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Serbia's Bogdan Bogdanovic, France's Evan Fournier, Spain's Ricky Rubio, Spain's Marc Gasol and Argentina's Luis Scola pose wit...
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Argentina's players look dejected during the ceremony after receiving their silver medals REUTERS/Jason Lee
Argentina's Tayavek Gallizzi (C) reacts during presentation ceremony at the end of the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by Greg BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GRE...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: player of Spain celebrates after defeating Argentina during the final of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Argentina and Spain at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China (Photo by Yan...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head Coach Sergio Scariolo of Spain celebrates after winning the FIBA World Cup - Final match between Spain and Argentina on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Xinyu Cui/Getty Images)
Spain's Rudy Fernandez collects the net of a basket at the end of the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by Greg BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Marc Gasol of Spain celebrates their victory with the trophy at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head Coach Sergio Scariolo (Center), Willy Hernangomez and Juan Hernangomez of Spain with the winning trophy celebrates after defeating Argentina during the final of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Argentina an...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head Coach Sergio Scariolo of Spain hold the winning trophy celebrates after defeating Argentina during the final of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Argentina and Spain at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on Septemb...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Quino Colom of Spain kisses the trophy as he celebrates their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Juancho Hernangomez of Spain celebrates their victory with the trophy at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September...
Former basketball player Kobe Bryant (L) of the US embraces Spain's Ricky Rubio after presenting him the man of the match trophy at the end of the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Pho...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain celebrate their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (P...
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Spain's players celebrate after winning the FIBA World Cup as Argentina's players look dejected REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Argentina's Gabriel Deck in action REUTERS/Jason Lee
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Argentina's Facundo Campazzo reacts during the match REUTERS/Jason Lee
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Spain's Ricky Rubio in action REUTERS/Thomas Peter
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Ricky Rubio (9) of Spain in action during the FIBA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina in Beijing, China on September 15, 2019.
(Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Sergio Llull (23) of Spain in action against Brussino (9) of Argentina during the FIBA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina in Beijing, China on September 15, 2019.
(Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency ...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Juancho Hernangomez (41) of Spain in action during the FIBA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina in Beijing, China on September 15, 2019.
(Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Juancho Hernangomez (41) of Spain in action against Luis Scola (4) of Argentina during the FIBA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina in Beijing, China on September 15, 2019.
(Photo by Stringer/Anadol...
Spain's Sergio Llull (R) takes a shot as Argentina's Facundo Campazzo (L) watches during the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP) (Photo credit should re...
Spain's Rudy Fernandez (top R) takes a shot as Argentina's Luis Scola watches during the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read N...
Spain's Rudy Fernandez (top R) takes a shot as Argentina's Luis Scola watches during the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read N...
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BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain celebrate their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (P...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain celebrate their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (P...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain celebrate their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (P...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain players celebrates after defeating Argentina during the final of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Argentina and Spain at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo b...
Spain's Juan Hernangomez celebrates with their winning trophy at the end of the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by Greg BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GREG BAKER...
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Spain's Sergio Llull celebrates with the trophy after winning the FIBA World Cup REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Spain's Ricky Rubio sits on the court underneath confetti as he celebrates winning the FIBA World Cup with his medal REUTERS/T...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: #9 Ricky Rubio of Spain celebrates after winning the FIBA World Cup - Final match between Spain and Argentina on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Xinyu Cui/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team Argentina reacts after lose the finals between Argentina and Spain of 2019 FIBA World Cup at the Cadillac Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Yanshan Zhang/Getty Images)
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Serbia's Bogdan Bogdanovic, France's Evan Fournier, Spain's Ricky Rubio, Spain's Marc Gasol and Argentina's Luis Scola pose wit...
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Argentina's players look dejected during the ceremony after receiving their silver medals REUTERS/Jason Lee
Argentina's Tayavek Gallizzi (C) reacts during presentation ceremony at the end of the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by Greg BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GRE...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: player of Spain celebrates after defeating Argentina during the final of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Argentina and Spain at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China (Photo by Yan...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head Coach Sergio Scariolo of Spain celebrates after winning the FIBA World Cup - Final match between Spain and Argentina on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Xinyu Cui/Getty Images)
Spain's Rudy Fernandez collects the net of a basket at the end of the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by Greg BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Marc Gasol of Spain celebrates their victory with the trophy at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head Coach Sergio Scariolo (Center), Willy Hernangomez and Juan Hernangomez of Spain with the winning trophy celebrates after defeating Argentina during the final of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Argentina an...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head Coach Sergio Scariolo of Spain hold the winning trophy celebrates after defeating Argentina during the final of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Argentina and Spain at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on Septemb...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Quino Colom of Spain kisses the trophy as he celebrates their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Juancho Hernangomez of Spain celebrates their victory with the trophy at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September...
Former basketball player Kobe Bryant (L) of the US embraces Spain's Ricky Rubio after presenting him the man of the match trophy at the end of the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Pho...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Team of Spain celebrate their victory at the cup ceremony after winning the FIBA World Cup 2019 match against the Argentina National Team at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. (P...
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Spain's players celebrate after winning the FIBA World Cup as Argentina's players look dejected REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Argentina's Gabriel Deck in action REUTERS/Jason Lee
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Argentina's Facundo Campazzo reacts during the match REUTERS/Jason Lee
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Final - Argentina v Spain - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 15, 2019 Spain's Ricky Rubio in action REUTERS/Thomas Peter
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Ricky Rubio (9) of Spain in action during the FIBA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina in Beijing, China on September 15, 2019.
(Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Sergio Llull (23) of Spain in action against Brussino (9) of Argentina during the FIBA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina in Beijing, China on September 15, 2019.
(Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency ...
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Juancho Hernangomez (41) of Spain in action during the FIBA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina in Beijing, China on September 15, 2019.
(Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Juancho Hernangomez (41) of Spain in action against Luis Scola (4) of Argentina during the FIBA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina in Beijing, China on September 15, 2019.
(Photo by Stringer/Anadol...
Spain's Sergio Llull (R) takes a shot as Argentina's Facundo Campazzo (L) watches during the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP) (Photo credit should re...
Spain's Rudy Fernandez (top R) takes a shot as Argentina's Luis Scola watches during the Basketball World Cup final game between Argentina and Spain in Beijing on September 15, 2019. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read N...
Y quizás esperábamos un enfrentamiento mucho más parejo, pero ha sido muy desigual, ya que los de Scariolo han comenzado la final como un ciclón, marcando distancias desde el principio y ha terminado ganando por 20 puntos (95-75).
Una victoria trabajada tanto desde la cancha como desde la banda. Porque cómo explicar que Luis Scola, gran estrella de Argentina a sus 39 añazos, no haya anotado un sólo punto hasta el tercer cuarto.
La pizarra de Scariolo facilitó el trabajo a sus chicos y los jugadores de España sólo tuvieron que hacer su trabajo sobre la cancha. Con un enorme trabajo en la pintura, los españoles cerraron el rebote defensivo a diferencia del partido contra Australia.
Los argentinos buscaban recortar distancias y lograban ponerse a un punto con un parcial de 10-0 en el primer cuarto, pero fue el único momento en el que amenazaron la autoridad española. Cinco puntos seguidos de Rivas y, de nuevo, la defensa, pusieron el 14-23 al final de ese período.
Y la ventaja fue agrandándose hasta llegar a los 14. Scola se desesperaba sin poder anotar y se peleaba con Rivas mientras los españoles seguían a lo suyo. Rudy acertaba desde la línea de tres y subía la distancia a 17 puntos.
Laprovittola, uno de los jugadores destacados de Argentina, con un parcial de 7-0 recortó a la decena de puntos la distancia con su rival. Pero no había manera. Cada vez que se acercaban, Scariolo ajustaba al equipo y éste respondía.
Al descanso, el partido se fue 31-43 para los españoles.
El tercer cuarto siempre ha sido terreno de España y la ventaja pasó de los 12 a los 20 puntos con un gran trabajo de Marc Gasol en la pintura. Un parcial de 2-9 permitió a los de Scariolo poner la máxima ventaja hasta ese momento: 21 puntos.
España mantuvo con gran trabajo el diferencial de dos decenas de puntos en el electrónico durante el tercer cuarto, pero por debajo se gestaba un pequeño incendio: las faltas.
En el segundo cuarto, España se quedó sin Juancho Hernangómez y sin Pau Rivas, eliminados por faltas, debido a que Argentina subió la presión y forzó estas situaciones.
12 puntos separaban a un equipo del otro a falta de seis minutos, dando esperanza a los albicelestes. Pero los ‘bajitos’ reaccionaron e impidieron que la cosa fuera a peor. Un canastón de Ricky y una buena acción de Llull aumentaba la distancia a 15.
Argentina se desesperaba y no terminaba de llegar, mientras Llull, a falta de dos minutos, ponía en 20 a España (90-70). Y ahí entregó la cuchara el entrenador rival. No hubo historia hasta la bocina y España ya celebra su segundo título mundial. Una generación histórica que sigue agrandando su leyenda.