For the suspense, it will be necessary to iron.
This Thursday, in Dijon, the French team had fun against the modest Portuguese.
This scenario could well happen again during the return match scheduled for Sunday between the two teams, but in Portugal this time.
By beating the Lusitanians, Vincent Collet's players won their third success in this Pool E after those acquired against Montenegro (73-67) and Hungary (78-54) last November.
3⃣/3⃣ 👊#TeamFranceBasket |
#FRAPOR pic.twitter.com/Xf0XAhXRRj
– French Basketball Teams (@FRABasketball) February 24, 2022
This success brings them closer to qualifying for the 3rd round of the European zone qualifiers.
There is still a long way to go with reaching Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, the three organizing countries of the 19th edition of the world high mass scheduled for August 25 to September 10, 2023.
To obliterate their ticket, offered to the first three and eliminating only the last of each group, the Blues will have to wait mathematically for Sunday and a new success.
That is in fact, but in practice, the qualification of the Blues is not in doubt.
The last two group matches, against Montenegro and Hungary, respectively on July 1 and 4, will then count for nothing.
At the start of the match, the Lusitanians surprised the French and increased their lead to eight points (11-17, 9th).
They complete the first quarter with a two-point lead (15-17).
But France cannot lose against Portugal (6 wins in as many games).
From the second quarter, the French took control (37-33).
At the break, the Blues are content with the union minimum, in particular because of too many ball losses.
Like a diesel, Louis Labeyrie's teammates then completely asphyxiated their opponents (65-44, at the end of the third quarter).
Without really forcing, the Habs administer a real correction to the much too limited Portuguese, who ultimately show a deficit of 38 points (94-56).
"We did a lot of work to win," said Vincent Collet after the game.
It's a shame to have taken so long to launch the machine.
But afterwards, we made quite a difference…”
