The Blues win in the Czech Republic in qualifying for the 2023 World Cup

Already qualified since November 2022 for the World Cup (August 25-September 10 in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan), the France team won a ninth success in eleven matches on Thursday, in Pardubice, against the Czech Republic. (72-59).

The Blues had a difficult start. They were even led by nineteen points (30-11) after eleven minutes. But in the next three quarters, they totally smothered their opponent with their defense and quick play, moved ahead late in the third period and were able to finish in a freewheel.

For his third selection, Victor Wembanyama (19) broke his records for points (22), rebounds (17), steals (5) and blocks (6), all in 30 minutes of play. Boulogne-Levallois equals the record for rebounds in Blue since 1995, established during Euro 2022 by Rudy Gobert.

His three-point success (4 out of 12 in the end) also helped make the difference in the second half. He was perfectly supported by Paul Lacombe (13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals) as well as by the Monegasque Yoan Makoundou, left at the disposal of the Blues by the “Roca Team” despite the resumption of the Euroleague on Friday .

The former Cholet interior also broke his best marks with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks in 21 minutes. The Blues have accumulated eleven blocks and added a fourteenth victory in fourteen matches against the Czech Republic since 1995.

They will finish the world qualifications on Sunday in Trélazé (Maine-et-Loire) against Lithuania, dominated in the first leg (90-65), with the challenge of first place in the group, while the two selections have the same record ( 9 wins, 2 losses) before the last day.

Record rebounds equaled for Victor Wembanyama

The France team chased after the score for 27 minutes. Without intensity or speed and deprived of Terry Tarpey (thigh) at the last minute, the Blues indeed completely missed their start to the match, pushing Vincent Collet into a big rant after five minutes.

Andrew Albicy and his teammates had still not scored a single basket and were already sailing twelve lengths (1-13) from the Czech Republic of neo-Limougeaud Tomas Kyzlink, author of nine points in five minutes for twenty-three in the end. ” We wake up, it’s an international match! shouted the French coach to shake up his young team. The entries into play by Sylvain Francisco and Hugo Benitez gave a boost, the Blues won balls but remained sterile at the finish (11-27, 10th).

Their first basket came in the 5th minute and their first winning shot, also signed Victor Wembanyama, in the 16th minute, after seven misses. But a good series of fast play and seven interceptions in the second quarter brought France to nine lengths at the break (27-36), while “Wemby” took over the opposing pivots to arrive in the locker room with 9 points (3 of 11 on shots), 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 3 stray bullets.

The France team did not make the same mistake after the break. Under the impetus of Sylvain Francisco, she multiplied the phases of fast play before taking control (44-43) on an alley-oop concluded by Makoundou after a pass from Lacombe, which followed two three-point successes in a row from Wembanyama. She then passed an 8-0 thanks to the Nicolas Lang-Hugo Benitez duo (6 points, 3 assists, 2 steals) to take a good margin (57-47, 32nd) and controlled the last quarter to win serenely (72-59) confirming its place as the best defense in European qualifying with 62 points conceded on average.