beaten by Germany, the Blues complicate the task of entry
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They could see themselves spoiling the party. Pack up the party favors and fireworks released in the preamble to the party. Instead, the French men’s basketball team was the icing on the cake of a successful evening for the 19,000 supporters of the packed Cologne arena. Beaten by Germany, at the opening of the European Championship, Thursday 1er September (63-76), the Blues complicate the task of entering a competition where they display their ambitions.
In front of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Franz-Walter Steinmeier, at the head of a gathering who came to celebrate Dirk Nowitzki, legend of German basketball and among the best players in the history of the continent, the French wanted to take care of their entry. Struggling since the start of their preparation at the start of matches, the Blues had promised to do better.
“We didn’t start well. However, coach Vincent Collet noted after the meeting. What we lacked until then, in terms of aggressiveness, we had. But we lacked lucidity, and the stray bullets prevented us from taking a little lead. » Aggressive in defense, like pivot Rudy Gobert, forcing more than one opponent to bring out the ball rather than face it, Evan Fournier’s partners lacked inspiration in attack to say the least.
A sluggish attack
Static, embarrassed by the defensive aggressiveness of the Mannschaft and sometimes seeming not to know what to do with the ball, the Blues struggled. To the point, sometimes, of seeming disconnected from each other. “They defended well and we didn’t know how to attack them well, recognized the French captain. We really lacked rhythm, in my image. » Content at seven points, the best French scorer of the last Olympic Games was unable to carry his team. In the absence of game facilitators Nando De Colo and Nicolas Batum – both excused for this campaign – Fournier’s leadership was expected. Including by the Germans.
“We were prepared in defense, we knew what they wanted to do, there was a lot of concentrationassured the strong winger of the Mannschaft, Johannes Thiemann, after the meeting, welcoming the contribution of the public in the performance of his team. The coach had told us about Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, we were focused on preventing them from finding their positions. » And the two leaders of the Blues are locked in the German vice.
“We expect systematic preferential treatment, for Evan, remarked Vincent Collet. He will have to adapt, be more patient, but also need help. » If the French technician did not hide that his “two leaders, Rudy [Gobert] and Evan [Fournier] were below what is expected of them, so it is a handicap”the one who assured a few days ago that “the attacking site is even more important” – than the one in defense – saw his players prove him right on Thursday.
Between stray bullets (17), free throws left en route (67% success), the France team never seemed able to take off. “We weren’t disciplined enough and in attack, we were a bit rushed, we weren’t patient enough, analyzed Evan Fournier. Our defeat tonight is a lot of attack, stray bullets, shots that are a bit of a snack. » And the addition is salty.
German cohesion
“We have to be on time”warned Vincent Collet the day before the meeting, anticipating “a fight in front of 19,000 people, mostly Germans”. A solid team, led by soloist Denis Schröder, the Blues knew the Mannschaft capable of annoying them. So they had dedicated a player, Andrew Albicy, responsible for containing the German leader. “We must not let him play easily. He will always want to score points, but you have to try to limit him and isolate him”, warned the player before the meeting. Official watchdog of the Blues for several years, the leader of Gran Canaria was recalled to the tricolor group shortly before the Euro despite a preparation truncated by injury. His mission: stick to the tails of the best opposing backs. If he failed to ” to crack “ Schröder, as he had the ambition, Albicy contained the German star well.
But unable to widen the gap because of their lack of attack – with the exception of strong winger Guershon Yabusele, the only one to float – the Blues gave ideas to the rest of the German team. Encouraged by the room, the Mannschaft players grew bolder. And carried by the leader Maodo Lô (10 of his 13 points in the second half), they fly away at the end of the third quarter. “We have never had such cohesionwelcomed Denis Schröder after the game. Everyone adds their share, and no matter who registers the baskets, we are all happy. »
If Vincent Collet admitted to not being “only half surprised” by the course of the meeting, knowing “that there were things to settle”the French coach is trying to be positive. “It’s the first match of the Euros, it puts us [tout] immediately in the hard, and shows us what we need to improve. » In a very tough Group B, they won’t have time to procrastinate anyway. From Saturday, Lithuania and its cohort of fans landed in Germany await the Blues. Like France, the Baltics were beaten on Thursday – narrowly, by the Slovenian defending champions (85-92) – and aspire to recover. “It’s going to be a battle, warns Rudy Gobert. And I know that, personally, I have to be better. » If the France team wants to go far in this Euro, it is not the only one.
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