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OLYMPICS

Olympic gold "already booked" for Team USA, says Spain coach

After Spain's 83-76 defeat to the USA in the teams' final warm-up for the Olympics, head coach Sergio Scariolo said the Americans look to be a shoo-in for gold in Tokyo.

Olympic gold "already booked" for Team USA, says Spain coach
Ethan MillerAFP

Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo says it’s hard to look beyond the United States when it comes to predicting which team will take gold in the men’s basketball tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.

"Let's be realistic" - Scariolo expects Team USA to be too strong in Tokyo

Listen, I think that the gold medal is already booked,” Scariolo told reporters after watching Spain lose 83-76 to the Americans in Las Vegas on Sunday, in the sides’ final friendly before the Games.

“If Team USA play according to their potential, or even a little bit lower, then there is nobody in the world who can beat them in a real game when they will be playing for something real like winning a medal.

"So let’s be realistic and try not to fool people and not to sell something which we don’t have.”

The USA begin their Olympic campaign against France on 25 July, while Spain play their first game of the tournament against hosts Japan the following day.

(Please note: second half of video Spanish only)