Their trainer was calling for him. “We have not yet made our reference match in the tournament. Hurry up because there are only two left! », insisted Vincent Collet the day before the semi-finals of the Euro. His French men’s basketball team heard him. Friday, September 16, the Blues took the best of Poland after a controlled meeting from start to finish (95-54), reaching the final of the continental competition. Sunday, the partners of Evan Fournier will face Spain there. And the French captain affirms it: “We’ve been saying it from the start, we didn’t come here for a silver medal! »
Faced with the Cinderella of the competition, firmly determined to extend her fairy tale after her victory against the Slovenian trophy holders in the previous round, the French knew they were expected. “We have to play Poland like a semi-final of the European championship”, warned the tricolor coach. No question of looking down on an opponent certainly lacking references at the highest level – no NBA or Euroleague player – but who did not steal his place in the last four of the tournament. “We came into the game really respecting our opponent, exposes strong winger Guerschon Yabusele. We played our basketball: we were very aggressive in defense, and we shared the ball very well. »
For the Blues, the equation looked very similar, on paper, to the previous match. An opponent boosted by a victory against one of the favorites. After Italy, who defeated Serbia, Poland, defender of the outgoing Slovenian champions, found themselves on their way. But the encounter was radically different.
“We jumped down their throats”
From the first minute of play, Evan Fournier’s partners defended the iron. And, after scoring the first basket of the match, the Poles struggled to keep up with the pace imposed by the Blues. “We don’t have that much experience of this kind of situation”, warned Polish winger Aaron Cel before the game. Aware that their opponent was a novice at this level but capable of catching fire, the Blues immediately wanted to put him under the extinguisher. “We jumped at their throats, we were very aggressive. We didn’t want to let them gain confidence, and [on voulait] crush them. And that’s exactly what we did.”, exhibits Evan Fournier.
A strategy matured after the Polish surprise in the quarter-finals. “We had seen their match on Wednesday, where the Poles had scored 58 points in the first [période] », reveals Vincent Collet. The tricolor staff had also noted that, in the third quarter, the defensive pressure of the Slovenians had reversed the trend of the match. “Our idea was not to give them a chance in the first half; and, from the first minute, to put them under infernal pressure”continues the Norman technician, ” very satisfied ” of his flock.
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