They cling to their blue dream, like a thread of life. It almost unraveled, but even when the situation seemed lost, the French men’s basketball team found a way to reverse the trend. The Blues won on Wednesday, September 14, in the quarter-finals of the Euro against Italy (93-85). As against Turkey, in the previous round, the French had to go through extra time to win. And as against the Turks, they had the favors of fate, when the Italian Simone Fontecchio, offensive spearhead of the Squadra Azzurra, missed two crucial free throws in the dying seconds. The Blues will play the semi-finals of the continental competition on Friday against Poland.
“I won’t say that we are miracles, another word would please me more. Robbers, for examplesaid, relieved, captain Evan Fournier after the game. But we’ve ended the game like this twice now, we really have to stop putting ourselves in these complicated positions when we have the game in hand. »
Last year, at the same stage of the competition, the Blues won against the Italians after a fierce fight (84-75), to open the door to the last four of the Tokyo Olympics. The remake on Wednesday delivered on its promise, with both teams fighting an intense battle to stay in contention. Between boosted Italians after having stunned Serbia in the round of 16 and the French “miraculous” – the words of their coach – against Turkey (87-86 victory after extra time), the confrontation looked uncertain.
“They have their heads in the clouds and they are super confident, warned the tricolor strong winger Guershon Yabusele, Monday. We will try not to make the same mistake as the Serbs. » Especially since the Blues of France and Italy know each other well, having faced each other twice in preparation. For two French victories, one narrowly (78-77 after extra time) and one with style (100-68).
The eternal problem of bullet losses
Suspicious, the French are patient in attack from the initial in-between. “We’re going to play to our strengths, they to theirs, and we’ll see what happens. summarized the tricolor pivot Moustapha Fall before the match. A team will have to impose its style. » Alternating between inside and outside, the Blues sign a solid introduction, well helped by an insolent address from afar. On the Italian bench, coach Gianmarco Pozzecco cannot believe it. But beware of the loss of bullets, cute sin of the Blues, which keep the Transalpine within range.
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