Everywhere, Marseillaises, a fiery atmosphere, real declarations of love made to French athletes, but for the Blues, it was whistles that came down from the stands of the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, during the last match of the group stage against Germany. Already held by Brazil (78-66) and miraculously against Japan (94-90 aet), they despaired the Lille public for three quarters before reacting at the end of the match (71…
Everywhere, Marseillaises, a fiery atmosphere, real declarations of love made to French athletes, but for the Blues, it was whistles that came down from the stands of the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, during the last match of the group stage against Germany. Already held by Brazil (78-66) and miraculously against Japan (94-90 aet), they despaired the Lille public for three quarters before reacting at the end of the match (71-85).
A first phase that revealed cracks and weakened coach Vincent Collet. The incredible end of the match against the Japanese, with a 4-point basket to go into overtime, saved the French from a second fiasco, a year after the one experienced at the World Cup in Indonesia with an elimination in the group stage, but not a litany of questions.
Fournier goes to the clash
Was it necessary, as in Rio where the Parker-Diaw era ended in disaster, to offer one last round to the leaders, Nando de Colo and Evan Fournier? Why leave by the wayside creators-finishers (Francisco, Okobo) who would have helped an attack that was suffering and very dependent on Victor Wembanyama? Precisely, hasn’t the leadership position given to the young unicorn of the San Antonio Spurs cracked a group that does not give off great alchemy? And is Vincent Collet, who saw the American coach Kenny Atkinson arrive in his staff, still the man for the job?
After Team USA, it is the second best team on the board. It will take a feat, a normal match will not be enough.
After the defeat against Germany, full-back Evan Fournier put his foot down: “We lack reference points,” pointed out the former offensive leader of the Blues, overtaken by Wemby in these Olympics. “At times, I think we make mistakes in the way we want to play. And we pay the price for that. Nowadays, the best defense remains attack. It’s no longer the game of the 1990s or 2000s where you could defend half-court. Your attack is essential.”
Scathing. Just as much as Vincent Collet’s response: “Evan Fournier, it’s not the group. It’s a regrettable and unacceptable statement for which he bears responsibility. And he will have to explain himself. We must not dream and believe that we could beat Canada only by attacking well. We must be disciplined and structured. We are also trying to find fluidity in attack but for the moment, that is not the key.”
Canada, a painful memory
The Canadians, for their part, are advancing in this tournament, without blinking. Their team is solidly structured: point guard Gilgeous-Alexander, No. 2 in the NBA MVP election, slasher Nembhard and shooter Rowan Barrett to carry the attack, guards Dort and Brooks – that player we love to hate – to bite the calves of the opposing scorers, valuable role players (Olynyk, Alexander-Walker, Powell). “After Team USA, they are the second best team in the field,” Collet admits. “We will have to pull off an exploit, a normal game will not be enough.”
In Jakarta, at the end of the summer of 2023, the Blues had played a normal match and the sanction had fallen harshly (55-95). So, like their colleagues in handball, who also seem to have lost their mojo and with whom they swapped places in Lille, the Tokyo Olympic vice-champions are now relying on invisible forces to save their Olympic tournament. Like Nicolas Batum, who launched a prayer when he set foot in Paris: “Since our arrival, we feel that we are at the heart of the Olympic Games, I hope that it will bring magic.”
2024-08-06 07:30:49
#hope #brings #magic #Nicolas #Batums #prayer #quarter #Canada
