After four consecutive defeats (Germany, Serbia, Canada, Australia) to end the preparation, the Blues begin their 2024 Olympics in Lille, with a match against Brazilfrom 5:15 p.m. A match that is already crucial…
As we know, the Olympic Games are a special competition. Everything happens very quickly and the slightest setback can be extremely costly. So there is no time to catch up in the event of a misstep. So, if France loses this afternoon, it will be in an extremely delicate position for the rest of the competition.
Mopeds in the back
Because a first defeat would impose a victory then against the Japanand especially against theGermanythe reigning world champion, to slip into the Top 8. It is therefore absolutely necessary to take this inaugural match, to avoid finding yourself on the edge of the precipice from the first day.
Logically, Brazil is within reach of the Blues, with an interior sector that can hurt the Seleçao.
But be careful, because the eternal Marcelinho Huertas and his teammates got through the Riga OQT, beating Latvia on home soil thanks to an offensive festival, particularly behind the 3-point line.
“(Marcelinho Huertas) has aged but remains decisive. Yago and Raul Neto are also very strong players and constitute a very strong rear traction. And it is a very skillful team on the wings and in the 4 positions” Vincent Collet explains:who has been warning for a very long time against this team, which the Blues know little about.
An experienced team, which had certainly had to go through the OQT, but which had still knocked out Canada during the last World Cup, missing only the quarter-finals because of a final defeat, during the second group stage, against a Latvia which was then walking on water…
A decisive Wembanyama/Caboclo duel
All the more so since Brazil's ability to impose a physical duel and pace could hurt Les Bleus.
Faced with Marcelinho Huertas, the moped Yago Dos Santos and Raul Neto, it will be absolutely necessary for the French exteriors limit ball losseswhile the duel Victor Wembanyama – Bruno Caboclo will be decisive.
For “Wemby”, the challenge is to limit the impact of the Partizan Belgrade player, while forcing him to defend, if possible near the circle. For Vincent Collet, there is also a need to “bring Victor closer to the circle, whether he plays position 4 or position 5. I am convinced that he will do it more with the entry into the competition.”
BRAZIL SQUAD
Marcelinho Huertas (1m90, 41 years old) – Tenerife (Spain)
Yago Dos Santos (1m75, 25 years old) – Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Raul Neto (1m85, 32 years old) – without club
George de Paula (1m96, 28 years old) – SESI Franca
Vitor Benite (1m94, 34 years old) – without club
Léo Meindl (2m01, 31 years old) – Tokyo (Japan)
Gui Santos (1m98, 22 years old) – Golden State Warriors (NBA)
Marcos Louzada (1m96, 25 years old) – without club
Bruno Caboclo (2m08, 28 years old) – Partizan Belgrado (Serbia)
Joao Marcello (2m03, 23 years old) – without club
Lucas Dias (2m08, 29 years old) – SESI Franca
Cristiano Felício (2m11, 32 years old) – Sendai 89ers (Japan)
DIFFUSION
The match starts at 5:15 p.m. and will be broadcast on France 3 And Eurosport 6.
