Women’s basketball at Euro 2023: Les Bleues beat Great Britain, but didn’t show much

It passes for the French, but for reasons of satisfaction we will return. This Friday in Ljubljana, Aime Tupan’s players made a big difference by dominating the Brits 63-57 but without the manner shown during France-Great Britain, culminating in a big blue win 76-54 in preparation for Bourg-en-Bresse five days ago.

Poorly inspired on offense, passive on defense, with little success in shooting, the French seemed willing to sink to the level of their opponents rather than try to outdo them.

Starting to lead the race by 10 points in the 3rd quarter, Tupan’s players gradually let the English in until they equalized the score (33-33) in the middle of the 3rd quarter. However, the Blues finally decided to speed up to secure enough lead, 44-35 at the end of the 3rd period.

But in the last ten minutes, the French again fell into relative lethargy and allowed the opponent to complicate their lives, however, without affecting the final result.

After all, Les Bleues, with two wins in two games in Group C, can confidently count the rest of the competition, namely a direct ticket to the quarter-finals, sparing themselves a tricky flurry. On Thursday, the tricolors already lost to Germany in their first match, securing a much-needed win (58-50).

Unfortunate finalists in the last five European Championships, the French team is aiming for a third continental title in Slovenia after 2001 and 2009.

“It was a little better than yesterday, even if it’s not perfect,” Tupane praised BeIN at the microphone. I hope we make progress every day. Something else needs to be fixed. I am sure that by the end of the competition we will be better. For some, this is their first competition and I know they will improve if they take the field at a certain time. »

From a practical point of view, captain Sarah Michel is no more worried than the coach: “Now the competition, not the preparation, the teams have raised the level of the game, we are ahead, the victories are ahead. By the way, it would be better, but at the moment we are doing what we want to do. I don’t think the group has any doubts. There were fears in the first game. On this, we looked at each other for a bit, not knowing who should do what … “

After a rest day on Saturday, the Blues have an appointment with the Slovenian hosts on Sunday (18:00). A great opportunity to progress in all areas without the pressure of results.