Basketball: in pain, the Blues win in Italy

And two for the France team.

A few hours after the announcement of a new package in their ranks, that of Frank Ntilikina, the Blues won in Bologna against Italy (77-78 ap) this Friday, in a preparation match for the EuroBasket 2022 (September 1-18).

Victory in pain, certainly, but victory all the same.

The second in preparation, after the card against a weak team from the Netherlands last Sunday in Rouen (89-65).

French and Italians will meet next Tuesday, in Montpellier this time.

To see if Simone Fontecchio (24 pts) will still be as hot.

We imagine that Evan Fournier (3 pts) will be a little more… Best scorer for the France team in this meeting?

Rudy Gobert, with 15 points.

Note the impact of Vincent Poirier (14 pts, 13 rbs).

It started slowly for the Blues far from the defensive standards which are his usually.

Blues dominated in the fight, the aggressiveness, and counted up to 10 points of disbursements in the first quarter.

No rhythm in attack, no chocolate for the men of Vincent Collet, who however managed to return to the locker room tied (36-36 MT).

Well paid for a French team which “survived” its 13 ball losses in the first period (against 4) thanks to its address (57% on shots against 31), its throws (11/15) and its rebounds ( 20-16).

9 points for Okobo, tricolor top scorer at this stage, 11 for Fontecchio, boiling.

The awakening of Gallinari, Mannion weighs down Italy

The Habs returned overall with better intentions on the restart, depriving the locals of speed, points in the racket and relying on a powerful bench, Poirier in the lead.

Better and the advantage in the score with 10 minutes to play (50-54).

Fontecchio continued his festival before dying.

Italy was now overtaken by Poirier and the Blues, who increased the gap (53-60), before… the awakening of NBAer Danilo Gallinari (13 pts), whom we had not seen too much until then ( 63-64).

Tense, tight, hooked end to the match, Fontecchio and "Gallo" allowing Italy to equalize in the last minute (69-69).

Last possession France, with Fournier who could not find the fault and “TLC” who sent a prayer to the circle, in vain.

Extension in Bologna (69-69 end of 4th QT)!

The first five points were French (69-74) but Italy, between vice and address, did not make a gift (75-76, 77-78).

Although, Nico Mannion missed the inevitable under the circle in the last minute, a basket that would have given his team the advantage… Despite many shots dropped along the way in this extension, as at the end of regulation time elsewhere , France held firm (77-78 final score).

And this after a failure of... Mannion, him again.

Two matches in Montpellier before Bercy

See you in Montpellier on Tuesday for the “revenge”.

Still in Hérault, the Blues will face Belgium two days later, before heading to Paris, where they will challenge the Czech Republic in qualifying for the 2023 World Cup on August 24 this time, then Bosnia and Herzegovina in displacement (27/08).

The last matches before turning to Germany for the Euro.