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Only top 6. But there are also 4 wild cards (3 at most for Europe).
France should receive one if they doesn't crack the top 6.
I thought it was top 6
Only top 6. But there are also 4 wild cards (3 at most for Europe).
France should receive one if they doesn't crack the top 6.
France look to avoid letdown
France hope to avoid a major slip-up as they face off against Macedonia in Qualifying Round Group E action at EuroBasket 2009 in Bydgoszcz.
Vincent Collet's French look to remain perfect and move to 3-0 in the group while Macedonia are hunting for a major upset and improving to 1-2.
The unenviable task of containing Tony Parker will fall on the shoulders of Vrbica Stefanov. Save for when Tony Parker took over the action, France have struggled on offense in all three games - though they did improve in their victory over Russia. Collet hopes that ball and player movement seen against Russia can continue.
The French coach also would not mind his team building a big lead early so he can rest his starting point guard as Parker has already logged 33.3 minutes per game.
Macedonia meanwhile admit they are just happy to have advanced past the Preliminary Round. Everything from this point is just building upon the experience of playing at a high level tournament.
Jovica Arsic's men just want to play the best basketball that they can and hope that France struggle and give them a slight chance to spring the surprise. Macedonia do however have the low post players to play with France with the likes of Jeremiah Massey, Pero Antic, Todor Gechevski and Predrag Samardziski. But the question will be if the wings and guards can keep up with the French athleticism.
Head to Head: France and Macedonia have only faced off once and France won that encounter, 71-67 at EuroBasket 1999.
Last Time Out: France notched their third straight victory of the tournament beating Russia 69-64. Macedonia had a 17 point lead against Croatia before losing 81-71.
Key Match-up: Vrbica Stefanov vs Tony Parker. France's Tony Parker torched Germany, Latvia and Russia for an average of 19.7 points in the Preliminary Round. Next up for the 27-year-old NBA star is 35-year-old veteran Stefanov, who must figure out a way to slow down Parker for Macedonia to have even a minor chance for an upset.
X-Factor: Macedonian outside shooters. Macedonia have taken the most three-pointers in the tournament - 29.7 per game - but Arsic's men have only made 27 percent of the long balls (only France, Serbia and Bulgaria were worse). If Vrbica Stefanov and Riste Stefanov - a combined 8 of 31 - can finally find their form then Macedonia may have a chance.
Key stat: 40.3 and 30.7. France have grabbed the most rebounds per game with 40.3, including 14.0 offensive boards per game, which has given them 9.3 more rebounds per game than their opponents. Macedonia average just 30.7 rebounds a game - the lowest for any team still at EuroBasket 2009 - and watched their opponents grab 6.7 more rebounds per game.
Sounding off: "We are really just happy to be here but we will try to present as good basketball as we can. And if they give us a chance then we will try to use it. But they are a better team than us." -Macedonian coach Jovica Arsic
The top 6 qualify. In reality, all 8 will almost certainly go.
Turkey has already qualified as host. If they make the QF, which seems likely as they are the only 2-0 team in their group, then 7 quarterfinalists will go.
In addition, FIBA will name 4 NTs as wildcards to WC. It is a virtual certainty that the 8th place team at Eurobasket will receive one of the wildcard bids.
So a French win today will almost certainly clinch a ticket to the WC next year.
This is in essence what I wanted to know. But seeing how hard it was for France to qualify for the Euro, I don't want to see them finish at the last non-qualifying spot yet again and then get snubbed by FIBA...
Ian practiced with the team yesterday and is ready to play for today's game.
Top 6 not counting Turkey. So if Turkey makes top 6, then it is top 7 teams. Also Europe gets 3 out of the 4 wild cards.
Well, games is going to begin in a while, looking forward to it!! I hope we are going to see attractive basketball full of action. May the best one win !!Allez le Bleus! - Напред Македонија!
Impressive ball movement and athleticism on display so far for the french. 24-9 at the end of 1st
Is Ian suited up or is he going to play?
What was the score of Greece vs Macedonia, already?
44-15 in 17 minuteswith our bench playing for quite a while
49-18 at the half for France.
49-18 at the half.
FIBA needs a mercy rule.
He is suited up but he likely won't play. NT coach doesn't want to take risks with him.
Link (in french):
http://www.sport24.com/basket-nba/eu...orfait-296363/
Macedonia doesn't look much like they belong out there. France has been putting on an impressive offensive display
and it's a shame considering the game. He could have had PT in this game.
Last edited by kace; 09-11-2009 at 02:50 PM.
Damn, we got our asses kicked, you just crushed us big time. We all expected to lose, but this easy? damn, we did not do our best, i dont know, they were lost, dont know what happened. At least seeing my favorite player, TP playing my country made my day
Congratulations
Final score 83-57
The game was over after 15 minutes.
FNT is now mathematically qualified for the quarter-final round . The last two games will only decides at what spot. Given how close are the teams of the other group, it isn't a big deal. The key will be to be fresh for the quarter-final. Today games was good in that area since the blowout allow Collet to rest his main players.
Maybe that was the problemDamn, we got our asses kicked, you just crushed us big time. We all expected to lose, but this easy? damn, we did not do our best, i dont know, they were lost, dont know what happened. At least seeing my favorite player, TP playing my country made my day
Congratulations
84-56
http://www.eurobasket2009.org/en/cid_toT,ovGDH2EaLKL67XnPo2.gameID_6365-A-1-1.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2009.roundI D_6328.teamID_.html#{5E70D78D-E480-4F66-9B60-839D032EE21A}
Macedonia team whole strategy is to just launch 3 point shots. if they do not hit them they have no chance to win games.
86-54
http://www.eurobasket2009.org/en/cid...8.teamID_.html
Same type of game as this one, basic over in middle of first quarter.
Nice
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