Basketball: Stunning, the Blues beat Spain and remain undefeated in preparation

Stunning! After suffering martyrdom in the first period, the Blues turned Spain upside down (78-73) this Saturday, at the Accor Arena, for their fourth warm-up match before the EuroBasket (August 27-September 14). Four matches and four victories for this French team in reconstruction since deprived of several key players (Wemby, Fournier, Gobert, Lessort) and the experience of retired internationals Nicolas Batum and Nando De Colo, honored before the game . This is the eighth success as coach for Freddy Fauthoux, still undefeated in this costume, and the second victory in a row against Spain, already beaten Thursday in Badalone (75-67) . Unprecedented since 1995!

13 points for Bilal Coulibaly, the French team's top scorer on Saturday night at Bercy, 10 for Matthew Strazel, 9 for the explosive Sylvain Francisco and Théo Malédon, 8 for Mam Jaiteh and the excellent Jaylen Hoard. It should be noted that the Tricolores still haven't found the right three-pointer, having only made 7 of their 26 attempts (26%).

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The two teams traded blows from the start (7-8), but soon only the Spanish were left to give blows (7-20). Between Poirier's withdrawal and Jaiteh's two quick fouls, Sarr was on the front line. Problem? The Washington Wizards player was struggling. Above all, the Blues were multiplying turnovers (7) and missed shots (1/5 at 3 pts) in a complicated first quarter (12-21 at the end of the 1st QT). Unused until then, like Cordinier, Francisco got the machine going again. Caviar for Hoard, triple in the corner, tightrope act to the circle (17-23, then 28-36)… It took at least that to keep the Blues afloat. But that's all he could do for the Blues, who were still clumsy and lacking inspiration against a Roja team that had done its homework since Thursday (28-44 MT). 13 points for Yusta, the top scorer in a one-sided first half.

After "Batman" and De Colo, Vincent Collet was honored before the restart. And both started strongly, with four points from Jaiteh (32-44)... who received his fourth foul. But the Blues had changed gear in terms of intensity. Day and night! Thanks to the vision of Strazel and the incredible three-pointer from Coulibaly (44-46, then 46-48), hope returned to the French ranks. Transfigured! The Blues were aggressive, but still remained permissive (53-63, then 58-64 at the end of the 3rd quarter).

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With 10 minutes to play, and after a tribute to the members of the exclusive club of players with 200 caps or more, the Blues bared their teeth, like the warrior Cordinier (63-64). There was always a mistake, a missed layup, a turnover, or missed shots to allow the Spaniards to stay in the lead. For a while. The momentum was French, and Fauthoux's men turned the tide with 4'56 to play, in the midst of a 10-0 run (63-67, then 73-67). They were never troubled again after that, with Strazel's basket with 25 seconds left as the final blow (78-73 final score). They will stay two more days in Paris before meeting up in Athens on Friday, where they will face Greece on August 24 for their final trial run.