Poland and palpitations, the sudden semi-final of the Blues

Again on the courtroom of miracles: two days after their sudden qualification for the final 4 of Eurobasket-2022, French basketball gamers discover Friday (5:15 p.m.) on the Berlin ground an sudden visitor, Poland, faller of Slovenia Luka Doncic.

“We went by means of a mouse gap twice,” admits coach Vincent Collet. Specifically by two extensions, in opposition to Turkey within the eighth then Italy within the quarter, snatched every time thanks to 2 missed free throws, in flip these of Cedis Osman then Simone Fontecchio. Whereas they may push France to 4 factors with twelve and sixteen seconds to play.

A “cardiac” and even “horrible in entrance of the TV to dwell” Euro, as captain Nicolas Batum launched on Twitter, resting this summer time like Nando De Colo, the opposite absentee scoring among the many Olympic vice-champions.

“We do not see it just like the viewers for whom it have to be much more unbreathable, sympathizes the coach. We’re fortunate to be within the motion.”

– “Blissful to be alive” –

His Blues, hoisted into the final 4 of a significant match for the third time in a row, are “comfortable to be there, to be alive and to have the chance to go to the ultimate”, testifies Vincent Collet, varnished additionally by the desk of the ultimate section.

As a result of nothing goes as deliberate on this Eurobasket, violent for the thrilling gamers of France, however deadly to the superstars of the NBA. After the elimination of Serbia by Nikola Jokic and Greece by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Slovenia have been additionally knocked down by Poland, semi-finalists for the primary time since 1971.

“We’d have been comfortable to kind them ourselves, assures Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, generally known as “TLC”. It could have been all of the extra a supply of pleasure.”

Vincent Collet, whereas describing the Poles who “frightened him greater than the rest within the first half with the extent they’d (as much as 23 factors forward of Slovenia, editor’s word)”, acknowledges that ” the chance is nice”.

“We don’t play in opposition to an unplayable workforce, he concedes in an understatement. They will beat us, however we are able to beat them too.”

Offered that the Blues restrict the harm of their two ordinary weaknesses, the catastrophic third quarter and the lack of balls, of which they’re the European champions (almost 16 per sport on common).

“After we arrived, we knew we have been able to beating anybody but in addition of shedding in opposition to anybody”, feedback Rudy Gobert. The statement stays legitimate.

– A workforce “not comparable” to that of the Video games –

In response to “TLC”, the workforce “isn’t comparable” to that Olympic vice-champion in Tokyo. “Our 18 lack of balls in opposition to Italy, it isn’t one thing we did final yr, he recollects. We enable opposing groups to achieve confidence in every sport.”

“Are we much less robust (than on the Olympics)? I do not know. Can we do higher? Absolutely,” hopes the winger.

“There are numerous issues we might work on, nevertheless it’s utopian to assume we are able to do it in 24 hours,” says Vincent Collet, fatalistic. “After we ship the ball into the stands on uncontested direct passes (like captain Evan Fournier in opposition to Turkey or TLC in opposition to Italy, editor’s word), moderately than working, we are able to simply hope that we cease doing it. “

Sigh or satisfaction, regardless of the balls misplaced in shambles, Evan Fournier’s band shows the very best protection of the 4 semi-finalists (excluding further time) with barely greater than 76 factors conceded on common regardless of a brutal group B (Germany, Slovenia, Lithuania).

“We’ve not but made our benchmark match on this match, the coach is impatient. We now have to rush as a result of there are solely two left.”