By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Shaking off a slow start, Germany defeated France, 70-65, in a tuneup game in Sud de France Arena on Monday.
Victor Wembanyama (illness) was ruled out for the exhibition on the way to the 2024 Olympic Games. The remaining 11 players were available for head coach Vincent Collet, including Nando De Colo in his 200th appearance with the senior national team of France. The 37-year-old combo guard went scoreless over 12 minutes.
Making 7/12 in his summer debut, Franz Wagner tallied 17 points in Montpellier after missing the first matchup of the two countries in Cologne and shared the game-high with captain Dennis Schroder. Moritz Wagner with five points and four rebounds, and Nick Weiler-Babb with three points were the remaining additions compared to the first game. Besides players joining the friendly action, Daniel Theis and Johannes Thiemann remained unavailable.
Coming off comfortable wins against Germany and Turkiye, the Bleus jumped to a 12-point lead in the second quarter but trailed throughout the second half. Nicolas Batum and Bilal Coulibaly shared a team-high 11 points in the loss.
Resuming action on Friday, France hosts Serbia in Lyon’s LDLC Arena. Following more prep games, the first official contest is against Brazil on July 27 in Lille, in Gameday 1 of Group B of the preliminary round of the Olympic Games.
Gordon Herbert’s side welcomes the Netherlands in Hamburg on Saturday. Also competing for a spot in the Quarterfinals of the Olympics via Group B, the opener is versus Japan.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL