The Blues of basketball did not make lace this Friday. Opposed to Poland in the semi-finals of the Euro, Vincent Collet’s men dominated the meeting from start to finish and largely won 95 to 54. In the final, they will face Spain, winner of Germany ( 96-91) in the other semi-final.
+41, WE’RE IN THE FINAL
Incredible in defense, the Blues find the final of the@EuroBasket 9 years later #TeamFranceBasket | #PassionatelyBlue | #EuroBasket | #POLFRApic.twitter.com/29x30jM0K4
– French basketball teams (@FRABasketball) September 16, 2022
After two extensions torn thanks to two miracles in the round of 16 against Turkey and in the quarter-final against Italy, this time, the Olympic vice-champions never trembled, led by their interior Guerschon Yabusele, author of his record of points in selection (22).
18 points conceded in the first half
Poland, clumsy (32% success in total) and muzzled, was already relegated to 16 points at halftime (34-18). No team had conceded so few in half a Euro match since Czechoslovakia in 1946 (12 points against Hungary).
Evan Fournier’s band (10 points) followed in the wake of his triple best NBA defender (2018, 2019 and 2021), Rudy Gobert (6 pts and 6 rebounds), who collected counters in the second quarter. (3). The gap quickly widened, the executives were even able to rest since only one player spent more than 20 minutes on the floor.
The weaknesses, in particular the loss of balls (7 in the first round), remain there but “you have to live with it”, had resigned the coach Vincent Collet. “We don’t have all the qualities but in any case, we don’t let go,” he said positively. His players have faults but a defense.
Third final in the last four editions
A help of fate too. They were expecting Nikola Jokic’s Serbia in the quarter, they had Italy. They were expecting Slovenia from Luka Doncic in half, they had Poland. And the Olympic vice-champions did not miss this “great opportunity”, according to Vincent Collet, to make it to the final.
This third European Championship final in eleven years (out of four in total) says something about the current reservoir of French basketball, still at the top without being complete. Synonymous with the seventh medal in thirteen years of Vincent Collet’s mandate, this final also says a lot about the Normand’s record at the head of the blues.