2023-06-24 07:29:00
The French team has only one goal for this EuroBasket 2023: to go all the way and leave Slovenia with the gold medal around their necks. Except that today, a big obstacle will rise against the Blue. Indeed, the Belgian selection has been doing damage since the start of the competition, enough to offer us a poster that really looks like a final before the hour.
Frankly, after the group stage, we just wanted France to raise their level of play. Les Bleues scared each other every game, and there was no sign of a single improvement on the pitch. The arrival in the final phase could therefore frighten, but the French reassured everyone by dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s by crushing Montenegro in the quarterfinals. A collective win, 44 points apart, with the best score being Marine Fauthoux’s first big performance in this competition and a big domination of the interiors. Proof that EDF has raised its level, both individually and collectively. Note also thatIliana Rupert, who missed the quarter-finals with a shoulder injury, could be back tonight since she resumed training the day after the meeting, to prepare for the challenge facing Les Bleues.
Iliana Rupert is present on the ground during Les Bleues training on the eve of the semi-final of the Euro between France and Belgium. #EuroBasketWomen pic.twitter.com/epPY0QVqz0
— Gabriel Pantel-Jouve (@GabrielPJ_) June 23, 2023
On the other side of the table, Belgium showed the same authority… but against the reigning European champions. During their shift, they beat Serbia by 40 points (!), with an Emma Meesseman who was able to record the first triple-double in the history of the Women’s Euro. But this historic perf is only the gateway to the fire collective of the Belgians, who literally play like the Spurs of 2014. Almost as many assists as shots scored, all topped off with an insolent address from afar? France will have a job to defend, but it has the means to fight.
Indeed, the Blues have – finally – shown us during the previous phase that they were capable of going all the way, and they know that they are still capable of raising the level a notch to pass the terrible Belgium and reach the final (against Hungary or Spain). A new collective win with perfs in the scoring of some girls expected at the turn will be necessary to keep golden hopes. See you tonight at 8:45 p.m. on beIN Sports 1 and France 4 to attend this epic meeting between the French team and the Belgian Cats!
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The semi-final of Les Bleues against Belgium is this Saturday at 8:45 p.m. on @beinsports_FR 1 et @France4tv ????#PassionatelyBlue #EuroBasketWomen pic.twitter.com/9Hl69NqG5t
– French basketball teams (@FRABasketball) June 23, 2023
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