Both teams came into this game disappointed that they couldn't make the Basketball Olympics Finals. Australia had set their sights on the gold medal despite the United States' historic dominance. Their expectations only rose when they knocked out third place Lithuania in a surprise quarterfinal blowout, 90-64. However, they lost in the next round to Serbia 87-61. Spain on the other hand, fell to the United States in a much closer semfinal matchup, 82-76. Still, they were both determined to earn the final spot on the podium and what came out of it was an amazing thriller. 

Spain lead steady in first half

Spain kept a narrow lead throughout the first half. At the end of the first quarter, they were up 23-17 and forced Australia into early foul trouble. The referees' calls would be pivotal in this matchup as you'll see later. Patty Mills and David Anderson carried the team early, something that would continue throughout. 

Patty Mills was killing it the whole game, leading Australia with 30 points. He was the main reason why they were able to stay so close throughout the game. Photo Credit: Bob Rosato/USA TODAY Images.
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The second quarter was even worse at the beginning. Spain got their biggest lead of the game at 12 and looked ready to run with the bronze medal. Australia, however, kept their hopes alive thanks to a three from Mills and Anderson each, as well as a couple of free throws from the latter that forced the game to 40-38 by the end of the half.

Foul trouble remains a problem

Remember the warning to keep foul trouble in mind as it will pop up later in the article? Well, here's one of the instances it will. While both teams ended up with the same amount of personal fouls (22), many more of Australia's key players were impacted than Spain's. Andrew Bogut fouled out in the third quarter, and while some of them were definitely worthy of the call, a couple seemed like a stretch. Anderson, Matthew Dellavedova, and Aron Baynes each had four fouls, while the only Spaniard with that many was Victor Claver. 

This would impact the game as a whole as the Australians had to playin crunch time more prudently and without their biggest name in Bogut. It may be an if statement, they might have still lost even without the foul trouble, but it still makes you wonder just what would have happened. Bogut, in particular, was bothered, as he accused the refs of a horrible game following the loss. He told the media about Spain "You just dive into guys recklessly and get calls like that," following with "You touch one of these guys and they go flying and the refs buy it." 

Andrew Bogut gets his fifth and final foul on a Ricky Rubio drive, a play that definitely hindered Australia and probably led to the loss in the end. Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports.
Andrew Bogut gets his fifth and final foul on a Ricky Rubio drive, a play that definitely hindered Australia and probably led to the loss in the end. Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

Closing moments

After bringing that early lead to within two by the end of the first half, Australia was able to keep the game close and even take the lead a few times all the way until the final buzzer. The refs called a controversial foul on Baynes with about 20 seconds in the game, who proceeded to make a layup with his team down 87-86 and a little less than 10 seconds left. 

The ending to the game, however, was rather anti-climatic. Spain took the lead for good thanks to a pair of free throws from Sergio Rodriguez; the controversey arose because the refs waited a while before calling the foul. Australia tried desperately to hit a game winner, but couldn't get a shot up in time and thus lost to Spain. 

Future for both teams

While it may seem like both teams will be falling in the near future because Pau Gasol, the team's leading scorer with 31 in the win, and Bogut mulling over international retirement, they would be leaving both teams in good hands. It's hard to remember because his name was circling the league even before he came, but Ricky Rubio is only 25 and still growing as a player. Nikola Mirotic is also 25 and has been proving to be a solid piece in the Chicago Bulls' attempts to stay in playoff contention. 

Pau Gasol passes down the torch to Nikola Mirotic, who will more than likely help lead Spain with Ricky Rubio in the next FIBA Championships and the next Olympics. Photo Credit: Bob Rosato/USA TODAY Images.
Pau Gasol passes down the torch to Nikola Mirotic, who will more than likely help lead Spain with Ricky Rubio in the next FIBA Championships and the next Olympics. Photo Credit: Bob Rosato/USA TODAY Images.

On the other side, you've got Dellavedova at, guess what age, 25 years old. Mills, the leading scorer for Australia with 30, is only 28 years of age and will more than likely play for his country until at least the next Olympics in four years. Ryan Broekhoff and Brock Motum, two players you've more than likely never heard of, both socred double digit points and are young players that Australia can rely on to keep the team in medal contention. 

This Olympics for both sides represent a sort of "gone with the old, in with the new" mentality. They are both losing the biggest names in basketball in Gasol and Bogut, but hope to replace them with solid players that, while not being as famous as the other two, can produce as much, if not more, as those two.