The Blues return to Montpellier for World Cup preparation match against Montenegro

Since 2013, the Blues have liked to put their suitcases in Montpellier to play a match, or several, often in preparation for major events. Tonight, they will challenge Montenegro (8:30 p.m.) for their second preparation match for the World Cup.

In a city not necessarily keen on the “orange ball”, where professional basketball fans only have BLMA and its Gazelles to quench their thirst, the French men’s team has always received great popular support.
In 2013, for the first basketball match in its history, the Montpellier Arena hosted a classic: France-Spain.

The biggest rivalry in European and even world basketball, for a preparation match for Euro-2013 in Slovenia. Defeated a year earlier at the London Olympics, and on a series of six defeats in a row against the Iberians, the Blues wanted to break the Indian sign. In a Hérault enclosure filled to the brim, after a vibrant Marseillaise, a cappella, the French had finally yielded in the last moments (84-85). A defeat despite a major performance by Tony Parker (29 points), who in his momentum then achieved an incredible Eurobasket to lead his team to a first international title, the only one still to this day… by finally beating Spain, in the semi-finals, after extra time.

Two years later, in their quest for a European double, Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw and what was announced as the best French team in history, returned to the Hérault capital, at the start of the 2015 school year.

Eurobasket at home in 2015

A Eurobasket at home and a group stage in the second largest sports hall in the country behind the Accor Arena (Bercy), not to mention stadiums such as the Paris-La Défense Arena (30,000) or the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille ( 28,000).

Five victories in as many matches, against Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland, Russia and Israel, in front of an average of 10,200 spectators.

Spans that vibrate to the sound of “bandas” and Émilie’s eyes, for a first place in the group and then a trip to Lille for the rest of the competition. A semi-final defeat in extra time against Spain, but the bronze snatched against Serbia that year.

In September 2018, during the qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup in China, the team coached by Vincent Collet was back on the shores of the Mediterranean with Batum, De Colo and a less experienced team. The eye-catching Finland three years earlier, had yielded, this time, more easily (83-67). A match in front of “only” 7,100 spectators, certainly less attracted by the absence of a few executives in the French ranks.

Last summer, in his preparation for the Eurobasket, the teammates of an Evan Fournier, promoted to captain, had corrected Italy (100-68) then Belgium (90-71).
This year, before a world where they will be expected, the Blues will challenge Montenegro, this Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., at the Sud de France Arena, to continue the beautiful story between the Hérault capital and the selection.

2023-08-02 05:03:56
#Basketball #Montpellier #Blues #beautiful #romance