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The identity of the semi-finalists at EuroBasket 2022 has been revealed. After arriving in Berlin, it is the French national team, which played the 2nd overtime. They were winners once again. We remind you that Vincent Collet’s students beat Turkey 87:86 in the round of 16. Today, in the quarterfinals, they also beat Italy in extra five minutes – 93:85.
EuroBasket 2022 – Fontecchio’s efforts were not enough
The first quarter of the match was fruitful. The teams focused on attacks from the perimeter, and it turned out that in the first ten minutes, the opponents scored more three-pointers than two-pointers. In this regard, the French hesitated and used 6 out of 8 long shots, so it was unsurprising that they took the lead 29:20.
The 2nd quarter was full of mistakes. The teams saved many easy shots, and with France holding on to their advantage, there seemed to be no way Gianmarco Pozzecco’s Italy could escape. The Apennines certainly didn’t look as composed as they did against Serbia, reflected in their low-scoring performance.
In the end, France went to the break with a 7-point advantage gained in the first quarter, and what is interesting is that the absolute majority of points were distributed among five basketball players: Evan Fournier and Timothรฉ Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 9 points each, and Rudy Gobert, Thomas Heurtel and Guerschon Yabusele scored 6 points each. Simone Fontecchio was outstanding from the Italian side with 11 points.
Another overtime for France
Here, in the 2nd half, the situation changed dramatically. Italy stood much firmer in defense, and the head of the French national team could not find the five players trying to escape the opponent. As a result, the Italians won ten minutes 31:18 and came close to victory.
At the end of the 3rd and 4th quarters, Italy scored 12 unanswered points, thanks to which it once led by 8 points. However, it turned out that everything was decided in the last seconds: Fontecchio missed two free throws, and after Heurtel’s accurate entry, the score was 77:77. (5 seconds earlier) and it didn’t change either because the same Fontecchio couldn’t throw it from under the cover. Thus, the teams had to play overtime.
Both teams had a chance in the additional five minutes. However, France overcame it. The Pozzecco’s team focused on three-pointers again, but they were not lucky. At that time, French star center Rudy Gobert dominated the paint. Finally, he scored 19 points and 14 rebounds, and the tricolors won 93:85 and will play in the semi-finals.
Heurtel was the most effective in the ranks of the French national team with 20 points and 8 assists, Fournier scored 17 points, Yabusele – 15, and Luwawu-Cabarrot – 13. Fontecchio and Spissu led the Italians with 21-21 points, Datome scored 12 points, and Melli – 10. It should be noted that France beat the opponent in rebounds 43:33 and had a slight advantage in three-pointers – 13:12.