Six months after their pitiful World Cup, the French basketball players, still convalescent, defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina (74-64) at home this Monday in Tuzla, confirming their good start to qualifying for Euro 2025.
Three days after their success against Croatia (73-61) to start this campaign, here they are solid first in their group E. They have in fact signed a very good operation, with a view to qualification since they display a difference in points significant in the face of these two direct adversaries, since Cyprus is already qualified as a co-hosting country for Euro 2025.
Deprived of their NBA players, the Blues showed a different face than during the disaster of the summer World Cup.
As they were advised for their last outing before preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics, at the end of the season, they showed themselves diligently.
Yabusele and Poirier change the match
Coach Vincent Collet can thank the Euroleague for having finally agreed to a truce during the international windows: his two Real Madrid interiors Guerschon Yabusele (16 points, 9 rebounds) and Vincent Poirier (13 points, 8 rebounds) clearly made change the meeting.
Yabusele's double step, rewarded with a free throw, notably crushed the Bosnians three and a half minutes from time (67-58).
Among the new recruits, the leader-back of Paris, Nadir Hifi (2 pts), released his first cape, like the interior of Hapoel Tel-Aviv Jaylen Hoard (2 pts).
But it was Matthew Strazel (11 pts in total) who, for his second appearance, shone the most among the blues.
The Monaco leader made two long-range shots, full of nerve, at the end of the possession, including one at the buzzer of the first quarter (16-15).
He also showed maturity, despite his 21 years, to obtain a valuable offensive foul 101 seconds from time (71-59).
A lack of address which could have been costly
Still, the lack of skill, behind the arc (5/21, 24%) or on the free throw line (19/31, 61%), could have been costly.
But the “conquering defense”, called by Vincent Collet on Friday to make this gathering a “launching pad towards this summer” showed itself to be there by dominating the rebound (38 against 32) and by multiplying the interceptions ( 12).
Unlike the summer of 2022, when Evan Fournier's team lost 96-90 in Sarajevo in a qualifying match for the World Cup, this time NBA pivot Jusuf Nurkic, leader of his team, did not appear. selection.
Bosnian main danger, Dzanan Musa, one of the stars of Real Madrid, undisputed leader of the Euroleague regular season, was also well muzzled (5/13 and 6 lost balls).