For the entry into the running of the Mannschaft at home in Cologne, Dirk Nowitzki was honored at the start of the match to start the evening in a very good way, and this match already decisive for the French team. After Slovenia’s victory against Lithuania, the Blues had the opportunity to strike a blow from the start against the host nation.
But, on the strength of their recent victory against Slovenia, Germany perfectly knew how to master France to win quite clearly (76-63). A complicated start to the Euro for the Olympic vice-champions…
A new more defensive five
The Blues start with a new five, made up of Andrew Albicy, Elie Okobo, Evan Fournier, Guerschon Yabusele and Rudy Gobert. The holders set the tone defensively, preventing Germany from scoring their first point for almost four minutes, and this on throws through Schröder.
Both teams are visibly tense and the defenses have therefore taken precedence over this start to the game. Clumsy at 5/14 on shots in the first quarter, and guilty of 6 stray bullets, the Blues stammer their basketball and are logically behind against a more established Germany, after a few minutes of adjustments at the start (17-13).
Holders across
If Guerschon Yabusele ensures inside, with 10 points in the first half, and the entry of Théo Malédon is rather positive, France does not manage to pick up the score. Dennis Schröder may be followed closely, and by three different French people, he manages to find the fault. He, Niels Giffey and Johannes Thiemann are all three at 7 units and Germany is well and truly in the lead.
Too lax with 5 offensive rebounds left to the Germans, Vincent Collet’s squad can’t manage to serve their interiors either to give alternation to a sterile collective game, with only 4 assists for 11 lost balls at the break. And the 7/12 in throws does not help the cause, when the gap is -7 at halftime (38-31). Without counting Guerschon Yabusele, the holders accumulate 6 points…
An 18-3 that sinks the Blues
However, it started well with Guerschon Yabusele who confirmed his great form. Real Madrid’s strong winger is everywhere, against and behind the arc to put France at +1 on a 7-1 as soon as they return from the locker room. But this strong moment will quickly fall.
Like a stray ball from Malédon which launches Maodo Lo in a dribble before serving Schröder in the layup, Germany clearly takes the upper hand with a 10-1 which turns into 18-3! Maodo Lo does his show and several times the song at the French defense. And what about Thiemann who puts on the points without seeming to force.
Blues still no attack
With a starving fund of play and an Evan Fournier at 2/10 on shots, France scored only 10 poor points in the 3rd quarter and found themselves relegated to 14 lengths before the last quarter (57-43). Vincent Collet sends his twin towers to try to close the distance. Poirier manages to infiltrate and impose himself on the offensive rebound, but the defense of the Blues remains too soft.
Lo is untenable and Germany has 4 players between 11 and 14 points with Schröder, Giffey, Thiemann and Lo. Much better organized and in place, with only 9 stray balls, Gordon Herbert’s selection held its course throughout, with Theis putting the last nail in the tricolor coffin with a 3-pointer 2 minutes from the end.
The Blues manage to win the last quarter (20-19), but, much too rough, they logically fall from the start of this Euro (76-63). A severe but deserved defeat with an obvious lack of defensive toughness and the already alarming offensive game that we had seen in preparation…
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