16.09.2011

Les Bleus Write History To Reach Final

Turning Point: With the game tied 45-45 during the third quarter, France made a decisive 8-0 run from which Russia were never able to recover.

Game Hero: While Tony Parker has enjoyed better nights percentage-wise, his influence especially in crunch time was always likely to be significant. But, even he was overshadowed by Nicolas Batum who was outstanding with an all-action line of 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks.

Stats Don't Lie: Russia was trashed 35-21 on the glass.

Nicolas Batum chose the EuroBasket Semi-Final to deliver a masterclass in what an all-around small forward can do on the court

 

France will get the chance to fight it out for the EuroBasket title with Spain after their first ever win in a Semi-Final.

They inflicted a first loss of the tournament on Russia as they claimed a memorable 79-71 success, after an intense struggle which finally ended a last four 'curse' that had denied them on so many previous occasions.

Their victory also prevented Russia from setting up a repeat of the 2007 Final, with David Blatt and his team now left to fight it out with F.Y.R. of Macedonia in the bronze medal game.

As expected, both teams slugged it out in the early stages with neither giving the other any real daylight.

Timofey Mozgov dunked Russia into an 11-8 lead but Tony Parker responded with his second three-pointer of the game to level the scores.

France then edged ahead, thanks to a stunning baseline drive and dunk from Charles Kahudi before a spin move by Parker on the buzzer helped retain their slender advantage, at 17-16.

Russia started the second quarter in style with a dunk by Semen Antonov but France responded with a tough play from Nicolas Batum. Moments later they found themselves 24-20 ahead with possession and an opportunity to make a move.

But, after failing to execute, Mickael Gelabale was then called for an unsportsmanlike foul after stopping a fast break which gave Russia real impetus. They converted seven of the next nine points to take the lead, helped by a three-pointer by Sergey Monya.

France then managed to produce a decisive 11-2 scoring spurt with Batum and Parker both converting from downtown.

It put them 39-31 ahead with just 40 seconds of the half remaining but Vitaliy Fridzon replied immediately from the arc with what looked a potentially crucial score to limit the damage to five points.

France started the second half poorly when they returned from the locker room. They turned the ball over on their first three possessions and this allowed Russia to tie the game up in double-quick time.

With France scoring a solitary point in four minutes, they needed a kick start and it was Batum who provided. He made a couple of shots from downtown as France scored eight points without reply to take the initiative once more at 53-45.

When they increased their lead to double digits at 61-49 early in the fourth, it looked like a long way back for Russia and so it proved.

While Kirilenko tried to rally his team, managing to get within four points, it wasn't enough.

Parker and Batum both came up with some seriously big plays in crunch time to book a very special Sunday appointment with Spain.

16.09.2011

Quotes France vs. Russia

France Head Coach Vincent Collet:
"We are very happy to have qualified to the Olympics in London. It was our goal. We are also delighted that for the second time in our history we will be playing in the EuroBasket final, the first time since 1949. We played the best game of our tournament tonight. All of the strong points of the Russian team we were able to control, especially the rebounds. We did an excellent job on offensive rebounds. Nicolas Batum was very important in that. Everyobody gave everything to get those rebounds and I think that is the main reason why we won."

France Guard Nando De Colo:
"We played a good game. We played like we wanted to play, aggressive defense and we respected what the coach wanted us to do. We have quality players that are now experience. Nicolas had a great game. He played very good. He defended well on Andrei Kirilenko as well as also helping on offense. We are very happy."

Russia Head Coach David Blatt:
"Congratulations to the French team and to coach Vincent Collet. They deserved to win this game and they were the better team. Part of a tournament is knowing how to make small adjustments and recover from disappointments and go on with the tournament. France were a great team and we needed to bring our A game and we didn't. We've been a great team throughout the tournament and our disappointment came at the wrong time, it's that simple. The guy that really hurt us was Nicolas Batum. Batum made big plays at crucial times."

Russia Center Timofey Mozgov:
"I want to congratulate France, they were better today. It was not our best game on defense and especially in rebounding. When you score less than 80 points that's a bad sign for us. We failed and we must accept it. In this kind of game there is no excuse to be out-rebounded as we were tonight."