CANADA-FRANCE. The Basketball World Cup begins this Friday for the Blues who face Canada in Jakarta. Follow this first meeting for Evan Fournier and his teammates.
15:46 – The Blues in the lead at the end of the first quarter (14-16)
A first quarter in two stages for the France team. After a good start and a 7-0 entry, the Blues suffered a 14-2 to finally lead at the end of the first ten minutes of the game. Note the six points ofEvan Fournier who started his match well.
15:44 – Fournier restores the lead (14-16)
After Canada’s fine series, Guerschon Yabusele with two free throws and Evan Fournier who scored a second three-point shot allowed the Blues to come back in front with less than a minute left in the first quarter.
15:41 – Change (14-9)
Huge series from Canada who are on a 14-2 after a huge three-point shot from newcomer Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Note the violent counter of Nicolas Batum on Lugentz Dort. Elie Okobo entered for the Blues in place of Nando De Colo.
15:39 – The arrow of Olynyk (11-9)
Lonely, Kelly Olynyk does not hesitate and tries her luck at three points. It falls for the Canadian pivot.
15:38 – Gobert in two stages (8-9)
Rudy Gobert made his basket in two stages. Initially countered by Olynyk and Powell, the tricolor pivot recovers the ball and dunks on the two Canadian interiors.
15:36 – Offensive foul by Gobert (6-7)
On a screen to release De Colo from RJBarrett, Rudy Gobert moves and fouls the Canadian.
15:35 – Smart Fournier (4-7)
After two huge dunks from Dillon Brooks to pick up the score, Canada recovers the ball with Olynyk who tries to double-step against Fourbier but the n°10 gets the offensive fault.
15:33 – Net for Fournier (0-7)
What a start to the match for the France team. Well defended by Dillon Brooks, Evan Fournier took advantage of Nicolas Batum’s screen to trigger three points in front of Gilgeous-Alexander and it fell into the basket.
15:31 – Let’s go to Jakarta!
Dwight Powell wins the jump ball against Rudy Gobert and kicks off this match.
15:31 – Battue’s first foul (0-2)
While Nando De Colo opened the scoring for the Blues after a right hand lay-up, Nicolas Batum fouls before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses his shot.
15:22 – Let the anthems begin!
The match should start within a few minutes after the anthems! The players have just entered the floor.
15:20 – Do better than in 2014 and 2019
In its history, France has never reached the World Cup final, but it remains on two third places in 2014 and 2019.
15:15 – Advantage for the Blues
Since the 1954 World Cup, France and Canada have faced each other 14 times. If the Blues won nine games, the last confrontation turned to the advantage of the French who had beaten the Canadians in 2016 in a qualifying match for the Rio Olympics.
15:10 – Collet: “a difficult start to the competition”
If the French team is going to challenge Canada and its many NBA players this afternoon, Vincent Collet did not fail in a press conference to warn his players: “Canada is unknown, but in terms of workforce, with Australia it is perhaps the team with the most NBA players after the United States. We know that against this team, we will have to be really together, that we ask them problems with our collective defence. We have to move the game to a field that is as favorable to us as possible, and not help them play their game. It will be a difficult start to the competition.”
15:05 – Match odds
If this poster appears as the shock of group H, the match is very balanced according to online sports betting sites even if the French team is given as favorite:
- Betclic: Canada: 2.02 / France: 1.81
- Bwin: Canada: 1.78 / France: 1.65
- NetBet: Canada: 2.00 / France: 1.75
- Unibet: Canada: 2.02 / France: 1.80
15:00 – Start the World Cup well
If in the other match of group H, Latvia largely imposed itself against Lebanon (109-70), the French team begins its World Cup against Canada. A huge shock in perspective for the players of Vincent Collet against a selection that has the same objective: to win the World Cup.
14:55 – How to follow Canada – France in streaming?
If you want to watch the first match of the Blues at the Basketball World Cup against Canada on your computer, smartphone or tablet, you will need to subscribe to a subscription on Bein Sports.
14:50 – Canada without its leader
If basketball stars are missing for this World Cup like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kristaps Porzingis, Canada will have to do without its point guard and offensive leader, Jamal Murray. The reigning NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets has not recovered enough from his long and trying season.
14:45 – Mark absences
If Victor Wembanyama has favored the San Antonio Spurs and his club career to be available for the next few seasons with the Blues, Frank Ntilikina is also absent from the side of the French group where the leader has been replaced by Isaïa Cordinier.
2:40 p.m. – The locker room is ready
Less than an hour from kick-off against Canada, the Blues locker room to face RJBarrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Dillon Brooks.