Three weeks before the start of the Euro (September 1 to 18), France, Olympic vice-champion, launched its preparation well by dominating the Netherlands (89-65), Sunday August 7, in Rouen.
For the first of six matches, including two qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup, scheduled for August before the continental competition where they will aim for gold, the Blues relied on the back of the Knicks Evan Fournier, author of 15 points, their new captain, and the new pivot of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rudy Gobert, close to the double-double (12 points and 9 rebounds).
Nicolas Batum and Nando De Colo absent, who skip the Euro, and deprived of three players through injuries, including two packages for the European championship, the pivot Moustapha Fall (thigh) and the phenomenon Victor Wembanyama (psoas ), the Blues alternated between difficult defensive sequences and quality offensive phases. The aftermath of a week of intensive preparation in Nanterre.
Not bad for a first prep match?
Serious and diligent, the Blues won by 24 points against the Netherlands?#TeamFranceBasket | #PassionatelyBlue | #FRANED pic.twitter.com/CrBHYttMUG
– French basketball teams (@FRABasketball) August 7, 2022
Maledon and Okobo score points
“There are only seven days in the legs. In the first half, it was insufficient in defense. I focused a little heavily on the things that were missing in the dressing room. And I appreciated the reaction of the players in the second half”explained the coach of the Blues Vincent Collet.
Irregular until half-time (45-39), the 2013 European champions raised their defensive intensity in the third quarter, inflicting a 25-0 straddling the third and final quarter, thanks in particular to captain Evan Fournier, author of thirteen points in ten minutes. “It’s a title I like, but it doesn’t change much. I’ve had the role of leader since the 2019 World Cup. I’ve always had responsibilities”said Fournier.
Datasheet
France, 89 – Netherlands, 65. Venue: Kindarena (Rouen).
FRANCE : Okobo (8 points), Ntilikina (2), Mbaye, Luwawu-Cabarrot (5), Heurtel (5), Yabusele (4), Fournier (15), Maledon (9), Jaiteh (6), Poirier (11), Tarpey (3), Gobert (12), Cordinier (6), Howard (3).
NETHERLANDS : Franke (21), Van Der Vuurst de Vries (10), De Jong (4), Ververs, Kherrazi (6), Hammk (3), Edwards, Post (5), Schaftenaar (6), Haarms (4), Cook (6), Gap.
In the absence of the pivot Moustapha Fall, the pivot Vincent Poirier perfectly replaced Gobert, by accumulating 11 points and 8 rebounds. On the outside positions, the young Theo Maledon (21) and Elie Okobo scored points in the race to select 12 players for the Euro, finishing with 9 and 8 respectively.
The two competing players, Thomas Heurtel (5 points) and Frank Ntilikina (2 points) were more discreet. Collet had opted for a starting five with Biterrois Heurtel, in order to energize the game.
