The French basketball team has an appointment with Slovenia or Poland for a place in the final.
«We like to be scaredSays Gerschon Yabusele. And all the lovers of the France team trembled with the Blues. So many emotions again, this Wednesday in Berlin. In control throughout the first period (38-31 MT), Vincent Collet’s players broke down after returning from the locker room and accused a disbursement of seven points with just over two minutes in the fourth quarter. to finally win in extra time against Italy (95-83 ap) and compost their ticket for the semi-finals of EuroBasket. Mad. It took a huge Thomas Heurtel (20 pts) in the “money-time”, “man of the matchsaid Evan Fournier (17 pts), but also this bit of success that is going well. Big bit actually…
Like Ceci Osman on Saturday, against Turkey, Simone Fontecchio (21 pts) missed two free throws 16 seconds from the end of regulation time, while Italy was still leading by two points. He also missed the winning basket at the buzzer, opening the door to this new feat. 20 points for Heurtel, 19 for Rudy Gobert (14 rebounds), 13 for Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot. 21 units to the credit of Marco Spissu, who gave the reply to Heurtel at the end before giving in and leaving the scene to the ex-Madrilenian.
Strength of character
The half-empty glass? The Blues like to complicate the task. Glass half full? They have such big hearts. “Yes, but it’s a bit offsmiled Fournier, who took his fifth foul in overtime after an important basket. And the captain continues:I would like us to stop having air pockets and continue to play… We controlled the game and we had a real low in the second period. On the other hand, it shows our strength of character, we never give up“. Another 18 ball losses for the France team (against 10 for Italy), surprisingly dominated in offensive rebounds (8-11). “We have heart and balls», summarizes Gobert.
Contrary to their habits, the Blues started strong, with 9 quick points from Fournier and a defense already well in place (13-3). Gianmarco Pozzecco’s timeout made it possible to revive Italy (15-12), but the French address (6/8 at 3 points in the 1st QT) was diabolical (27-17, then 27-20 at the end of 1st QT) . Only downside? The technique quickly taken by Fournier. It was going to block him a bit. Already 2/2 at three points for “TLC” after 10 minutes of action, soon 3/3 (33-22) in a second quarter which saw the level go up a notch and the French lose too many balls. The latter, however, raised the tone with the rebounds against the Italians who were still clumsy. Enough to reach halftime in pole position (38-31 MT). And again, the gap could have been more significant without the 10 tricolor ball losses in this first period…
The blow of the breakdown, again
If they came back with good intentions and this spectacular dunk from Yabusele (45-36), the Blues marked time, with faults, clumsiness, offensive rebounds dropped and now euphoric Italians (47-43). These triples signed Yabusele and Fournier were good (53-45), but Italy took advantage of French errors to accelerate, gain confidence and take control (54-62 end of 3rd QT, 56-64). What bad choices in attack, forced shots for Fournier and company… Heurtel restarted the machine and France returned to -2 (68-70), but this devil of Fontecchio was boiling (68-75). A little over two minutes to play, the French back to the wall. And they snatched this extension with the equalizing basket signed Heurtel, after these failed throws from Fontecchio at 75-77. Which Fontecchio still had match point at the buzzer. Blessed by the gods. Spissu continued his festival before catching cold (80-81), but Heurtel and Fournier – who then took his fifth foul – put the Blues back in front. They didn’t let go of the reins, with stops, rebounds, Heurtel again and again, two throws from Tarpey and this dunk from “TLC” (93-85) to breathe, breathe, finally.
After Spain and Germany on Tuesday evening, France is therefore the third nation to score its ticket for the last four of the European championship. Vincent Collet’s players will face Slovenia or Poland on Friday in the semi-finals. In any case, they will play again on Sunday. It remains to be seen whether it will be at 8:30 p.m. for the grand final or at 5:15 p.m. for the match for third place.