Four out of four for the Blues.
After their demonstration against Italy on Tuesday (100-68), Vincent Collet's players disposed of Belgium on Thursday (90-71), still in Montpellier.
Their fourth success in four preparation matches for the EuroBasket (September 1-18), in Germany.
French team in diesel mode, which took a large part of the first quarter to get going (-11) before rolling out in the second half (up to +25).
Regional of the stage, Thomas Heurtel shone again (13 pts, 6 wt).
12 points from Rudy Gobert, 10 from Evan Fournier and almost double-double for Vincent Poirier (9 pts, 12 rebounds).
The Blues start upside down, but...
Not at all the same start to the match as Tuesday, with the Habs much less in motion in attack and above all, big holes in the racket on the defense in transition.
Add to that an Obasohan at 8 pts in the first quarter (14 in total), and you have Belgium in control (13-24) against a France who held on thanks to throws (8/8 in the 1st QT) and his 3 points (4/6).
The entry of Poirier allowed to put a little order under the circle and the Blues regained their game, their aggressiveness, their confidence.
Enough to inflict an 11-0 on visitors straddling the first two quarters and equalize on an increased signed M'Baye, his first points... in preparation (24-24).
It was on another distant bomb, from Maledon this time, that the France team took over the reins (29-27).
The beginning of
a long crossover, marked by this powerful two-handed dunk from Cordinier (33-33).
That of Gobert on the poor Gillet was even more so (37-35) and despite these careless mistakes in transition, the Blues, finally launched, turned in the lead at the break (44-35 MT).
Tarpey to accompany Heurtel, Fournier, Yabusele and Gobert on recovery, Luwawu-Cabarrot having three faults.
And it was the Le Mans player who scored the first six points for France, before a triple signed Fournier (53-38).
And two others for Heurtel (60-40).
The gap was made.
Short of 17 points at the start of the last 10 minutes of action (71-54), Belgium never fell below 10 points again.
Vincent Collet could quickly rest his executives, give the opportunity to show himself to those who play for the last places in the France group for the EuroBasket (90-71 final score).
The opportunity for Tarpey, author of 8 points in total, to consolidate his candidacy, like Tuesday, and for the aerial Cordinier to delight the 6,007 spectators.
Howard, he
See you at Bercy next Wednesday
The France team will now turn to the final phase of its preparation with two matches counting for the qualifications of the 2023 World Cup. It will be August 24 in Bercy against the Czech Republic and the 27, in Bosnia and Herzegovina , five days before challenging Germany in Cologne, at the opening of the European Championship.
By then, Vincent Collet will have unveiled his final list of 12 players.
So far, the Blues are at 13. To see if some of the injured will return in time.
We think of Andrew Albicy, for whom hope has always been in order, but also Moustapha Fall, as reported by
L'Equipe
on Tuesday.
Surprises in sight?
