2023-08-02 20:35:25
For its second preparation match for the World Cup, the France team defeated Montenegro, in Montpellier (80-69).
Despite a disturbing trip, Montenegro have offered far greater resilience than weak Tunisia and the small Balkan state will be one of the itching hairs of the World Cup. He has other assets than the Chicago Bulls pivot Nikola Vucevic, in double double (11 points and 11 rebounds) but very hampered by Rudy Gobert and Mous Fall, and Bojan Dubljevic who has accustomed us to much, much better than what he showed tonight.
Coach Vincent Collet will obviously have many more lessons to learn from this test than the truncated one once morest Tunisia. Everyone was able to be reassured by Evan Fournier, who lacked match sensations, and who was perfect in his role as scorer in the first half with 15 points to total 20 in the end. For his defensive impact on Nikola Vucevic and all the rest (16 points at 7/9, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks), a mention must also be given to Rudy Gobert. It is long before Mathias Lessort joins the big men duo Gobert-Fall in Orléans.
Evan Fournier on fire
As in Pau, the Montpellier arena was full as an egg, i.e. 8,478 spectators with the usual blue, white and red flags coming out. Vincent Collet sent the same five as once morest Tunisia to the fire: Nando De Colo – no doubt, he will be the privileged leader for money time during the World Cup -, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, Guerschon Yabusele and Rudy Gobert.
Two cons in a row from the Blues set the tempo, as did the offensive aggressiveness of Evan Fournier (10 points at 4/5 on shots in just under eight minutes). With fine collective movements on both sides of the pitch, France led 13-4 following six minutes of play, forcing Montenegrin coach Bosko Radovic to order a time-out to act as a firewall. An effective remedy because Montenegro went up the slope (15-12) also taking advantage of the changes on the French side.
Rudy Gobert’s three-pointer
The exit of Evan Fournier had considerably dried up the offensive potential of the Blues. 21-19. And once more the Montenegrins had missed their first eight three-point attempts…. while Rudy Gobert scored one! The FFBB had published a video where we saw him doing a series in training, but in the context of a match it is more surprising. And Evan Fournier imitated him. Like a little later Nikola Vucevic, then Boban Dubljevic to equalize at 37-37, and once more Nando De Colo at the buzzer to give a boost to the advantage of the French at half-time (42-37).
The action of the match for Sylvain Francisco
Montenegro provided a very good reply with in particular a good solidity on the rebound but with their five majors France started once more with a vengeance: 51-42. Before a new attacking weak time caused by a false rhythm, which allowed the Montenegrins to get closer to 58-55 thanks in particular to Nikola Ivanovic.
With a good Elie Okobo and a multi-faceted Nicolas Batum, the French team got back on their feet: 69-60 (34th) to finally cross the 10-point lead to 76-62 despite waste on the free throw line (16/25). The action of the match was an alley oop with a pass from Elie Okobo to Sylvain Francisco who from the top of his 1.79 gave me an incredible dunk.
After a few days of break, the next meetings of the Blues – without now their training partners – are fixed in Orleans once morest Venezuela (August 7) and Lithuania (August 9).
The box score is ICI.
Photo : Nicolas Batum (FFBB)
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