LONDRES (AP) — Es lo más parecido a un clásico moderno del básquetbol.

Cuatro años después del inolvidable partido de Beijing, España y Estados Unidos volverán a verse las caras el domingo en la final de los Juegos de Londres.

Nada ni nadie parece tener el potencial para arrebatar el oro a los estadounidenses. Pero España, en la despedida de su generación dorada del básquetbol bautizada como la ÑBA, quiere darse una última oportunidad.

El camino a la final ha sido muy diferente para los dos equipos.

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant y compañía han dominado el torneo con autoridad, invictos y sin apenas sobresaltos. En semifinales, destrozaron a Argentina por 109-83.

Son los favoritos y no rehuyen esa responsabilidad.

"Cualquier otro resultado que no fuera estar en la final, hubiera sido decepcionante para nosotros", dijo Carmelo Anthony tras la victoria frente a Argentina. "Sólo nos queda un partido".

España, sin embargo, encontró un camino tortuoso. Perdió dos partidos en la fase de grupos y tuvo que remontar para imponerse a Francia en cuartos de final y a Rusia en la semifinal por 67-59.

"Pese a las críticas de la gente estamos de vuelta en una final otra vez, no hay que tener dudas de este equipo", dijo el capitán español Juan Carlos Navarro. "Con Estados Unidos debemos hacer muchas cosas bien, cosa que no es fácil pero lo intentaremos".

Precisamente, Londres marca un relevo generacional para los españoles, en el que el menor de los Gasol, Marc, Serge Ibaka y el impetuoso base Ricky Rubio, ausente por lesión, tomarán la posta de la selección.

La final es la más que probable despedida de la competencia olímpica para los veteranos Navarro, José Calderón, y el pívot de Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol, que han liderado la década prodigiosa del básquetbol ibérico.

Su historia, precisamente, comenzó a escribirse en el Mundial juvenil de 1999, en el que ganaron el oro contra todo pronóstico tras imponerse a Estados Unidos.

En 2006, se proclamaron campeones mundiales, luego sumaron dos títulos europeos y con Londres encadenaron dos finales consecutivas en unos Juegos Olímpicos.

El oro olímpico es el único trofeo que le falta a este grupo de jugadores.

"Nosotros ahora queremos ganar el oro, que es algo que nos falta", agregó Calderón, quien se perdió la final de 2008 por una lesión. "Esperamos una guerra".

La última vez que España y Estados Unidos se vieron las caras fue en un amistoso celebrado en Barcelona el 24 de julio, pocos días antes del comienzo de los Juegos.

Los norteamericanos se impusieron cómodamente por 100-78.

En la final de Beijing, sin embargo, los españoles pusieron en serios aprietos a algunas de las mejores estrellas de la NBA. El partido se mantuvo igualado hasta los dos minutos finales del último cuarto, en el que Estados Unidos consiguió despegarse en el marcador y asegurar la victoria por 118-107.

Argentina y Rusia se enfrentan antes por la medalla de bronce.

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