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Crushed by Great Britain, the Blues played with fire

2021-02-22T18:19:15.819Z


Scattered like a puzzle by the British selection, the Habs still finish at the top of their qualifying group for Euro 2022.


A heavy defeat to finish.

Assured of their qualification for Euro 2022 last Saturday, against Montenegro (73-71), the Blues faced Great Britain without (too much) pressure on Monday, in their last qualifying match.

Admittedly, the group's first place was at stake, but the British had to win by 24 points or more to take it.

We have not come that far, but Vincent Collet's players, with absent subscribers, still had to lower the flag (73-94).

In fact, they did not go far from the correctional ... Mathias Lessort (15 pts), Isaia Cordinier, Yakuba Ouattara (12 pts) and company all the same ensured most with this pole position (73-94 score final), thanks to the particular point difference.

This is France's first defeat against Great Britain since July 10, 1988, in qualifying for the Olympics (76-91).

27 points for Manceau Ovie Soko and 23 for Chalonnais Myles Hesson.  

"They're having fun with you guys, it's a matter of pride now"

Vincent Collet

It started off badly.

"We are eaten in aggression", railed Collet to his players, quickly led by 13 points (7-20, then 9-22).

Mini reaction (15-22), but +10 Great Britain after 10 minutes (16-26).

And it was not getting better.

Like this devil of Soko, the British, concerned, physical and motivated, were walking.

"They have fun with you guys, it's a matter of pride now", stormed Collet again, who saw his team accuse a disbursement of ... 23 points (21-44)!

Finally present in the duels, the Habs limited the breakage at half-time (31-46, 36-52 MT).

Note the first nine points of the neo-Bleu Roos during this first period to forget.

Until the end of the suspense

Like this unsporting on Lessort, this dunk from Mbaye and several rough defensive sequences, the Blues (finally) went up a notch in intensity (46-59).

Except that the British, them, did not decline in this area (46-66, then 55-73 at the end of 3rd QT) ... And like these four shots missed very close to the circle in a row, we should not wait a helping hand from fate.

Finally the address at the start of the fourth quarter (62-73).

Small close, with Ouattara in all the right moves, but it was definitely the day of the British, skilful, active and who even did the show with Tarik Phillip (67-88).

With a little more than four minutes to play, Collet declared defeat but called on his players not to let go of first place.

Message received.

But in pain.

With a 21-point lead and the ball in French hands during the last possession, the English inexplicably refused to make a mistake, the clock playing for the Blues who were running without bothering to shoot and give back the swell to their surprising opponents of the day.

And we stayed there (73-94 final score).

Euro 2022 will be in four different countries (Germany, Italy, Georgia and the Czech Republic), from September 1 to 18, 2022. By then, the Blues will be expected at the Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8) , with the stars this time.

A few of the players present in Podgorica and in these qualifiers may also be there.

We think of Thomas Heurtel, decisive at the end of the match against Montenegro and author of eight assists on Monday, but also of Mathias Lessort, Isaia Cordinier, Andrew Albicy and one or two others.

Coach Collet to play.

Read also

  • Boris Diaw, profession "happyness manager" with the Blues of basketball

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-02-22

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