For its first outing since last summer’s fiasco, in Jakarta, the France team beat Croatia this Friday, in Brest, in qualifying for Euro 2025.
«Re-impulse a dynamicHAS”. This was Vincent Collet’s objective with this February gathering, the first since the fiasco at the last World Cup, in Jakarta. And the last before the 2024 Olympics (July 26-August 11). Obviously, no NBA player. The French staff, on the other hand, was able to count on several elements who play in the Euroleague, which is something new. HAS”It is not necessary to wait for the preparation of the Games to start a new cycle, with a more conquering state of mind. And we don’t just have to talk about it, we have to do it“, insisted coach Collet before facing Croatia this Friday, in Brest, to begin qualifying for Euro 2025.
Message received, with a 73-61 victory for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (15 pts), Matthew Strazel (12 pts), Gerschon Yabusele (11 pts) and Mathias Lessort (10 pts). 22 points for Mario Hezonja from Madrid. Under the eyes of the “football players” from Stade Brestois, runner-up to PSG in the Ligue 1 standings, the Tricolores failed in their shots (66.7%) and committed 16 turnovers, leaving their opponents hopeful at the end of the match. part. Not perfect, then. They nevertheless left the visitors behind thanks to their defense (19 ball losses).
The Strazel spark, the coup de grace for Yabuele
The two teams competed in awkwardness in a sluggish first quarter, with the Croatians first on pole (2-7) before a French reaction (15-14 at the end of the 1st QT). Zaccharie Risacher quickly made his debut in Blue. Strazel had to wait until the second quarter, while the other rookie in the group, Nadir Hifi, was not selected for this match. Recent winner of the Leaders Cup, the Paris Basketball player will perhaps celebrate his first selection on Monday, in Tuzla, against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Still, despite losing the ball (7 in the first period), the Tricolores raised their voice and widened the gap with the gains of Luwawu-Cabarrot and Strazel, their first points internationals (25-18). Not the last ones. 10 units at 4 out of 4 at the break! The French defense did the rest (35-21). The Croats, however, remained alive before half-time thanks to a few distant successes (35-30 MT).
Despite a few small errors, a loss of the ball here, a missed throw there, France returned to its fundamentals at the restart, the defense, hard, stifling. And the gap grew quickly (43-30), the Croats being, for a time, limited to less than 30% on shots! The poster of the evening was signed Hezonja, on the face of his Real teammate, Poirier, but the domination was indeed French (57-44 at the end of the 3rd QT, then 59-44) , including the Lessort construction site inside. Ebullient, said Hezonja started artificial respiration. He multiplied the exploits and brought his team, almost single-handedly, to within 10 points (66-57). Jaleen Smith (13 pts) also got involved (66-59, then 68-61). Alert ! France is down, with more losses of ball. Captain Andrew Albicy and Strazel made their mark with the shots (70-60) and Yabuele delivered the blow, at three points (73-61 final score). Curtain.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Monday
Remember that the French team was placed in group E of the qualifiers for the next European Championship with Cyprus (automatically qualified as organizing country), Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. We will have to finish in front of the Bosnians or the Croats in order to advance. The next qualifying window for Euro 2025 will be in November. Until then, Vincent Collet’s players will be expected in Villeneuve d’Ascq and Paris for the Olympic Games, who will play six preparation matches, including five in France. This time, it will obviously be with players playing in the NBA, Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum and a certain Victor Wembanyama. Bilal Coulibaly too? In the meantime, the basketball Blues have a meeting with Bosnia on Monday, aiming for two out of two.
2024-02-23 21:24:21
#generally #solid #diligent #Blues #dominate #Croatia
