“It's a very good team, with a very good coach, who has been there for two or three years. There are the Sabally sisters, who play well, and this year they have a big recruit, Alexis Peterson, who is a very good player. That's what they were missing at this level. There you go, they're a big opponent.”
You should not count on Jean-Aimé Toupane to deliver secrets or “punchlines”, but the coach of the Blues knows that facing Germany does not offer an easy quarter-final to his team.
Of course, we perhaps did not expect the “Mannschaft” to have such a party, especially in the group of the United States and Belgium, but Lisa Thomaidis' players started by surprising the Belgian Cats (83-69) behind a furious start to the match, notably from 3-point range. They solidly validated this success against Japan (75-64), before losing to the United States (87-68) during the third group match, when they already had their qualification in the bag. However, they only gave in in the second half.
Even though she is only 1m65 tall, Alexis Peterson is indeed “a big recruit” for Germany, because the naturalized American brings the punch that this team lacked to move up a level.
Great address from afar… and short rotation
Enough to put the Sabally sisters and Leonie Fiebich, MVP of the Spanish championship, into orbit. In their wake, the “Mannschaft” is surfing until now on the best 3-point address of the women's table, with 38.7% success. Are the Germans overdoing it? Maybe a little, but they can punish the slightest delay.
In any case, Les Bleues are warned because Germany's physical profiles can also punish them for defensive changes, as Australia was able to do in the last group match.
On the other hand, Nyara Sabally missed the last two games, following a head shock against Belgium, and it is still unclear whether she will be able to take her place against France. Leonie Fiebich was also injured against the United States but she should be in uniform, even if she will not necessarily be at 100%. In any case, Germany plays with a tight rotation, with the five members of the starting five approaching 30 minutes on average.
Behind, it's much lighter, and it's perhaps on this point that the Blues have the biggest advantage, in particular with Marine Johannès who comes off the bench in a dynamite role.
GERMANY'S MAJOR FIVE
Alexis Peterson – Marie Guelich – Leonie Fiebich – Satou Sabally – Luisa Geiselsoder
CANADA'S STAFF
Satou Sabally (winger)
Alexis Peterson (leader)
Alexandra Wilke (back)
Nyara Sabally (strong winger)
Marie Guelich (strong winger)
Leonie Fiebich (back)
Luisa Geiselsoder (pivot)
Alina Hartmann (winger)
Frieda Buhner (strong winger)
Emily Bessoir (winger)
Lina Sontag (leader)
Romy Bar (winger)
DIFFUSION
The France-Germany match should be broadcast on France Televisions And Eurosportfrom 6:00 p.m.
Photo credit: FIBA
