Summary of the second day of the Blues at the 3×3 World Cup

After a rather contrasting first day of competition, the French teams advanced for their second day of the group stage with two different objectives. Our reigning World and European champions were looking to secure first place in the group, while our Blues had to win their two matches to hope to snatch third qualifying place for the play-in. Retour on this high level night session for the third day of this 3×3 World Cup!

THE TWO MATCHES OF THE BLUES (F)

First match of the day at 7:20 p.m. against the Netherlands, still with Asterix and Obelix as French supporters in the stands. Les Bleues are punished from the start with a 2-point from their diminished opponents. Yes, the Dutch only play three after the injury of one of the players in the previous match. No luck, moreover they are sanctioned with an unsportsmanlike on a big and-one by Laëtitia Guapo. The 2022 World Champions quickly take a gap, Max Verstappen’s fans try to stay close to the score but Laëti says no and takes two big shots from the parking lot to end the series. Hortense Limouzin and Marie-Ève ​​Paget defend perfectly and Myriam Djekoundade scores the 21st point on a free throw. End of the match after five minutes of play: 21-8. It only took half of regulation time for the French to put an end to the Dutch tournament.

Back on the pitch two hours later for our Blues, and it is indeed the first place in the group that is at stake in this last match. Un victory for Austria and it is this qualifying place for the quarter-finals that lands on their territory. The hole is already made from the start of the match by the Austrians with a 3-0 in two minutes. Guapo passes the second on the drives, nobody manages to hold it and the French equalize so early. Les Bleues are more passive in defense and the opposing players are carried by their public. In addition to the numerous fouls whistled against them, Hortense Limouzin’s teammates thwart and are seven points behind with three minutes remaining. Les Bleues accelerate at the end and hang up two possessions apart. A fault for lack of lucidity will condemn the reigning champions. Final score: 10 – 13 for the host country, a blessing in disguise because the Blues are no longer in the same part of the table as the USA. Even if it may be a mistake, Rudy Fernandez and the Spaniards approve of this strategy.

Fall to get up better ????

Les Bleues finish 2nd in their group and will play a round of 16 on Saturday ????????⚔#3x3WC | @FIBA3x3 pic.twitter.com/0ruVIK5bEG

— 3×3 FFBB (@3x3ffbb) June 1, 2023

The classification of the female pool A:

1. Austria: 3 wins / 1 loss
2. France: 3 wins / 1 loss
3. Spain: 2 wins / 2 losses
4. Brazil: 1 win / 3 losses
5. Netherlands: 1 win / 3 losses

THE TWO MATCHES OF THE BLUES (H)

First men’s match, crucial to still believe in it, to believe in qualifying for the final stages. A good classico between French and German soldiers to find out who will return home tomorrow. The start of the match is sluggish because of good defense on both sides, but then our national Jules Rambaut goes into Rambo mode and picks up the pace of the match. Then the Germans go back in front, but never more than one possession away. The Blues resist numerous Germanic faults, and Franck Seguela does like his girlfriend by returning a big shot from the very decisive parking lot. Jules continues to kiss the circle and propels the French even more. The end of the match is as rhythmic as the dubstep playlist of the arena DJ, and Vincent Fauché returns two decisive throws to dismiss Germany with two possessions and keep a little air in the inflatable mattress. The end buzzer sounds: 14-11 for the Blues, one more victory and we are in the play-in of this 3×3 World Cup!

Another last game of the day for the French men’s team, hoping they don’t follow the example of their female counterpart who played just before. Opposite Madagascar, last of the group, a team with players with extended names that do not pass on the shirts. Vincent the little new shows why he was selected for EDF and the Blues take off after two minutes of play. The Malagasy return to a small point following French defensive errors. Little Livio with the endless name brings his island back into the game with four shots from the parking lot and Mada even passes in front (!). France lead 20-19 with two minutes remaining thanks to a big 2-point shot from Vincent Fauché. A Malagasy long shot and it’s over for the Blues. After two missed shots from Jules Rambaut, the Malagasy returned a fifth. Final score: 21-20, end of the match… but the French team is drafted on goal average after an apothecary calculation between the last three teams of the pool.

MADAGASCAR ???????? WITH THE FIRST-EVER WIN IN A BASKETBALL WORLDCUP ????????

???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ????#3x3WC pic.twitter.com/y6jLKLORWS

– FIBA3x3 (@FIBA3x3) June 1, 2023

The classification of the male pool A:

1. Serbia: 3 wins / 0 losses
2. Brazil: 3 wins / 0 losses
3. France: 1 win / 3 losses (66 points scored)
4. Germany: 1 win / 3 losses (63)
5. Madagascar: 1 win / 3 losses (59)

3 wins for 1 loss in total. But this defeat is bitter for the French women who lose first place in the group by a few points. See you on Saturday afternoon for the play-in of our two French Teams where our Blues will no longer have the right to make mistakes to hope to win a medal again in the 3×3 World Cup.

The schedule for Saturday, June 3:

• 2:10 p.m .: Play-in / France (H) VS 2nd in pool D
• 3:10 p.m.: Play-in / France (F) VS 3rd in Pool D
• 7:45 p.m .: Possible quarter-final / France (M) VS 1st of pool B
• 8:20 p.m.: Possible quarter-final / France (W) VS Canada