Ayayi on France’s Euro Loss to Spain: “We Must Kill the Match

The gold they aimed at – which would have signified a first trophy since 2009 – escaped them after a most tense meeting, where the play finally fell on the side of Spain, led by its excellent Pivot Awa Fam (21 pts, 9 rebounds), and which will aim for a fifth title.

The immense joy of La Roja and its relief was then in total contrast with the distress of Iliana Rupert, crouching in the middle of the prosecution. A few seconds earlier, the Bleaes’ wing had torn off to cause the fault that almost allowed the French to return to equality (63-65) and to tear off the extension.

But after a successful first franc launch, she missed her second attempt. “”It did not fall on the right side, we had the merit of coming back to a point“said coach Jean-Aimé Toupane,”iron iron (s)Es girls“Despite the disappointment.

A cruel end, after a second very complicated period for the French team, punished throughout the game by an address with three points far from its standards during this Euro (5/30). Faced with the Spanish rival, which has done them so much in the past in this same competition, the Olympic vice-championes had nevertheless started with the right end.

The hope at first, with a solid defense, and the considerable contribution of Valérian Ayayi. The captain showed the way, first behind, with three interceptions full of authority, like that before the emblematic Captain Alba Torrens when she had just come out of the bench. In attack, then, with an efficiency (13 points, 19 in total) without which the French may not have taken the lead.

Then there was the immense difficulty in the second act, an advance of 10 points which melted as snow in the sun as the Spanish, whose character was demonstrated more than once during this edition, returned to the game. While the Blue had found it “Solutions in the first period“, they then”stopped playing“, to Regretté Ayayi.”At +10, we have to kill the match and we don’t do it“.

Led by a new generation in Greece, La Roja was able to count both on the experience of Alba Torrens (12 points, 7 assists), 35, and on her pivot Awa Fam, born in 2006 of Senegalese parents who arrived in Spain ten years earlier. At only 19 years old, the Valencia player was a poison for the Bleues, with two counters, 9 rebounds and a very beautiful address (21 points).

“We knew that she was able to do beautiful things, and unfortunately she showed it against us, we were waiting for her at this level“Said Romane Bernies. Too muddled, guilty of many opposing interceptions, the French have lost the thread, marking only 8 points in the third quarter (against 18).

Something to get the task more and more difficult, while Owa Fam and Elena Buenavida came out of their hat two award -winning shots allowing the Spanish to take the lead. “”We couldn’t get over, despite some good stopsanalyzed Romane Bernies, In attack, it was too chopped compared to the first period, it was not fluid enough“.

Despite the consecutive efforts of Migna Touré, or a three -point basket Bernies, the Blue did not know how to overthrow the trend. And saw the dream fly away.