Ljubljana (AFP) – For the eighth consecutive time, the French basketball players qualified for the semi-finals of a European Championship by outclassing Montenegro 90 to 46 on Thursday, and will challenge Belgium on Saturday to aim for a sixth continental final in a row.
Since 2009, the French have always been on the continental podium, with gold around their necks in 2009, bronze in 2011 and silver in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021.
The series has not been seen since the beginning of the 1990s. Only Czechoslovakia in the 1950s and 1960s (nine consecutive podiums) and above all the USSR from 1950 to 1991 (22 consecutive finals and 21 titles) have done better.
But after losing their five consecutive finals – against Spain three times and Serbia twice -, the Blues want to finally win gold, one year from the Olympic Games at home.
This European title is the mission entrusted to Jean-Aimé Toupane when he was appointed coach in place of Valérie Garnier, who had been in place since 2013 but was not extended in the fall of 2021. despite a continental silver medal and an Olympic bronze in Tokyo.
In difficulty since the start of their Euro in Ljubljana with complicated successes against Germany (58-50), Great Britain (63-57) and Slovenia (73-68), the Blues have risen to power against the Montenegro, winning 90-46 after a match that was much less stressful than their first-round encounters.
“ We had fun, because we regained fluidity and accuracy. This is what we lacked so, inevitably, it forges confidence and this is what we need for the future “, commented Marième Badiane, top scorer of the meeting with 20 points, her record in selection.
Faced with a more limited team and weakened by the left calf injury of one of its leaders, Milica Jovanovic, Sarah Michel’s teammates escaped in the first quarter (23-9). In accordance with its philosophy from the start, Toupane gave playing time to all its players.
“ Nothing to envy them »
Marine Fauthoux delivered her most successful performance since the start of the tournament with 15 points and 6 assists. “ I knew I was going to be able to play like I usually play. There was no more frustration than that “Commented the leader of Basket Landes. “ I like it when it counts. »
The only black point: hit in the right shoulder, the interior of the Bleues Iliana Rupert remained in a tracksuit throughout the match. She is still uncertain for the end of the tournament.
In the semi-finals, the French will face the Belgium of Julie German, the most solid team which passed Thursday forty points to Serbia, defending champion (93-53). “ I think we shouldn’t be afraid of anyone given what we’ve shown “, Estimated German (26 years old) after this demonstration. “ We have nothing to envy them so we can’t wait to play this match “, estimated for her part the Frenchwoman Janelle Salaün.
The Belgians have chained very big performances for a week. They corrected Israel (108-59) then the Czech Republic (84-41), with a fluid game as evidenced by the 37 assists against Israel and 35 against Serbia on Thursday.
“ We are now here to go for the gold medal “Launched German, a regular in the French Women’s League since she has been playing at Asvel since 2016/17, with a season at Lattes-Montpellier in 2019/20.
Arriving on the European scene in 2017 with a bronze medal, the Belgians have gradually established themselves among the best nations in the world.
(With AFP)