Euro 2015 – The Blues start with a holy terror against Finland (97-87, ap) – Eurosport.fr

         Enter a competition is never easy. Let alone when one is presented as the favorite of the same competition. We must manage this heavy pressure especially against an opponent presented as a victim. In these circumstances, France has completed its first mission. In the wake of Tony Parker (23 points), Nando De Colo (16 points) and Nicolas Batum (16 pts), it started its Euro with a victory over Finland (97-87). Not everything was perfect far from it, especially in defense. But the Blues have provided most. Although they experienced air holes, which allowed the Finns to push overtime …
       

         This Saturday, there was a match. A real. With suspense. In a boiling Arena Montpellier and before a beautiful colony of Finnish fans, protected by Vincent Collet had failed in their fall through. At Euro 2013, they had been lax with regard to their entry to Germany (74-80 defeat). Rebelote the 2014 World Cup against Brazil (63-65). The old demons reappeared in the last quarter, when the Finns cleared 16 points behind to tie three minutes remaining (76-76). But El Tri chased them. Not without difficulty.
       

         In the money time, the reigning European champions have met this. And it is not necessarily that powered the Parker brand. The leader has yet high tone after the break with 17 of his 23 points. But on offense, he saw his lieutenants be waiting for you to ensure the extension and go for the win. Nando De Colo scored a crucial three-point basket just seconds from the end of normal time (81-78). He did it again in overtime, in the image of Batum and Boris Diaw, before leaving TP finish the job.
       

Tony Parker, the leader of the team of France, in the first game of Euro 2015 against Finland. – AFP

         The performance of Nando De Colo is clearly to highlight. Before halftime, behind CSKA Moscow took care of everything, helped by Nicolas Batum. If the defense suffered before an elusive Jamar Wilson (15 points at the break, 21 in total), everything was going well until the return to the locker room. And even later, thanks to a boost in the third quarter (63-47, 27th). And the Blues went through an air pocket in the last quarter.
       

         Blame guilty relaxation, both in defense than in attack, where the Blues then mumbled their basketball for a few minutes. The Finns took the opportunity to spend their 12-0. Under pressure, in doubt, however, the European champions have not yielded. And were able to refocus to handle this end of more tense than expected game. At the finish, the victory is there. And that’s the main thing. France has already done better than in his last two tournaments.