France qualifies for the semi-finals on the finish of the suspense
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French basketball gamers snatched their qualification for the Eurobasket-2022 semi-finals on Wednesday by beating Italy (93-85) after additional time in Berlin. That is their third successive main match semi-final, after the 2019 World Cup and the Tokyo Video games final yr.
The matches observe each other and look alike for the Blues. French basketball gamers gained their ticket to the semi-finals of Eurobasket-2022 on Wednesday September 14 by defeating Italy (93-85) on the finish of additional time.
“It has been twice now,” breathed captain Evan Fournier (17 pts). “We have now to cease having this air pocket throughout which we do nothing,” he added, referring to the disastrous third quarter of the Blues.
A brand new miracle
The French, Olympic vice-champions, will face in half Friday (5:15 p.m.) Slovenia of Luka Doncic or Poland, opposed Wednesday night (8:30 p.m.). The dream of Vincent Collet’s males to overcome the continental title stays intact. And right here they’re for the third time in a row within the semi-finals of a significant match, after the bronze medal of the World Cup-2019 and the silver of the Tokyo Video games final summer time.
Nevertheless, as soon as once more, they not had their future of their fingers. Just like the Turkish Cedi Osman on Saturday, Simone Fontecchio (21 pts) missed the 2 free throws which might have put the Azzurri away sixteen seconds from the buzzer (77-75). And like Saturday, the Blues supplied themselves a five-minute extension by equalizing on their final possession (77-77).
If miracles observe each other, so do air pockets within the third quarter. A 17-3 conceded (from 53-45 to 56-62) allowed the Italians to take the lead for the primary time within the match. “In 5 minutes, there was all the things, lack of balls, no withdrawal, no rebounds,” listed Evan Fournier.
Two steps away from a possible title, Vincent Collet’s males are already European champions in misplaced balls on this match (practically 16 per match on common), their “sin” pointed to Vincent Collet, a sin confessed however nonetheless not corrected.
The Blues supplied an excessive amount of sweet to the Italians (17 lack of balls earlier than additional time) whereas depriving themselves of photographs. They owe their survival for lots to their chief Thomas Heurtel who signed an amazing match (20 pts, 8 go).
With AFP
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