Group F, day 5: France vs Germany

[rikhardur]

The 2005 silver medallists Germany or France will take a big step towards reaching the 2007 EuroBasket quarter-finals as they face off in a Group F battle of teams on the rebound after heart-breaking losses to end the preliminary round.

Both teams enter the qualifying round at 1-1 and the winners of this game know that the quarter-finals would be likely just one win away.

For the losers, a real dogfight for fourth place in the group – which secures the final spot in the knockout stages – awaits.

Last Time Out: In the final game of Group D, France lost to Slovenia 67-66 as Tony Parker only made one of two free-throws with 0.1 seconds left, missing a chance to send the game to overtime. Germany, meanwhile, nearly came all the way back from a 21-point third quarter deficit before losing to Lithuania in the final minute 84-80 in Group C.

Last showdown: Germany beat France 81-77 in the quarter-finals of the 2001 EuroBasket in Turkey, when Parker and Frederic Weis combined for two points in 11 minutes. Nowitzki, however, had already become the focal point of the German attack, scoring 32 points, grabbing seven rebounds while collecting three steals and two blocks as well. All told, six Germans from the 2007 side were on the 2001 squad.

Key Match-up: Parker vs. Steffen Hamann and Demond Greene. Nobody can stop Parker entirely but Hamann and Greene will be responsible for trying to slow down the NBA Finals MVP.

Statistics: Parker and Tariq Kirksay are the only two French players with more than four three-pointers in the tournament and have made 40% of their shots. The rest of the French squad have combined for just seven long bombs at a 28% shooting rate.

X-Factor: Nowitzki will get his points and Ademola Okulaja will chip in his double digits as well. But Germany's chances rely on a third player to step up and that could be second-string center Jan Jagla, who is averaging five points and six rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. If starting center Patrick Femerling can't play much, Jagla may be the man.

Sounding Off: "France are probably the most athletic team in the tournament - as far as quickness and jumping ability. They like to try to play fast. And Tony Parker is probably the most dominating player at this tournament besides Dirk (Nowitzki). They love to play fast, so we have to be stable in our defense and can't play up and down the court with them." - German coach Dirk Bauermann.
http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.pageID_LclWaCOnHmgj8qUzi-PCC3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.coi d_gkINHFDOGnk8AtGUNuTwU0.articleMode_on.html

[reignman]

is nikagbatse playing with germany this year?



it guess it is gonna be a tight game...


although i like germany more... actually i like nowitzki ;P

but who doesnt like Nowitzki.

[Ptonda]

If Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and the rest of the team starts to play like a trully team, I bet France will win Germany. As I see it, Nowitzki is too alone to beat such powerful several players that play in France.

[wardjdim]

I see this game as the first BIG match-up of this tournament so far.

France, with its somehow new team, with many key guys still underperforming and them being heavily depending on Parker, has to beat Germany in order to start rolling in this tournament. Their game is not where Bergeaud could have got it yet and this is a big test for them (remember, a loss might mean a 3rd-4th place battle, especially with Lithuania match-up following).

Germany is a strong team, without much potential, but with a lot of determination and the tournament's best player. It has to be a win for them, in order to avoid Spain in the knock out games. Every team, besides Spain, Greece and Lithuania is beatable for them, especially in the knock out round and they know it well.

50-50 game. The Germans are mentally stronger, but the French need this game more desperately.

[CWILL]

is nikagbatse playing with germany this year?

No, coach Bauermann decided to cut Misan!

I think that this was a mistake. But Bauermann doesn't seem to like the way Nikagbatse plays and prefered to take Roller and Demirel instead of Nikagbatse.

The game should be pretty close.
I'm curious how Steffen Hamann and Demond Greene will defend Tony Parker!

[Jan van Grabski]

does anyone has an online TV link for this game ? please :o

[Trifilli]

does anyone has an online TV link for this game ? please :o

It should be available on Sopcast, either channel 27761, 26262 or 29737. At least that was the last information I had :)

[Ballstorm]

We would all be more than glad to see the french players play as a team and not just as "parker" and 4 others players to make the number . But so far Parker has only proved that he could score , not that he had the ability to involve his teammates . For that reason I would have loved to have jeanneau , who is not a renowned player by no means , but whose only concern is to help the team play the right way and not to score . Unfortunately jeanneau was hurt in the last days before the EU and was replaced by the not so convincing sangare ... As it has been stated before , parker is not the only respnsible and a player like diaw should try to do something to help the team and not hanging around on the perimeter trying to make complicated yet absolutely not neded passes .

it's not going to be easy :rolleyes:

[DanMajerle]

Game now live on DSF

[Mocho]

I think that France have better team and they have to win...but in this eurobasket i'm not sure about nothing...

[Trifilli]

It should be available on Sopcast, either channel 27761, 26262 or 29737. At least that was the last information I had :)

Was wrong, the game is on Sopcast 14978, just checked.

[damelo]

No easy, but Turiaff always plays well against Dirk so far... So he may be the real X-factor for this game.

[Mocho]

We would all be more than glad to see the french players play as a team and not just as "parker" and 4 others players to make the number . But so far Parker has only proved that he could score , not that he had the ability to involve his teammates . For that reason I would have loved to have jeanneau , who is not a renowned player by no means , but whose only concern is to help the team play the right way and not to score . Unfortunately jeanneau was hurt in the last days before the EU and was replaced by the not so convincing sangare ... As it has been stated before , parker is not the only respnsible and a player like diaw should try to do something to help the team and not hanging around on the perimeter trying to make complicated yet absolutely not neded passes .

it's not going to be easy :rolleyes:

I think that its that have happened before the arrive of Pepu Hernández. The team have 5 or 6 players in first level, but all of the moves are for an individual action for Parker and sometimes Diaw...now they have started to give responsability to Florent Pietrus (he's amazing...last year in Unicaja, my favourite team), Diawara and others...

P.D. There are a boy in de NCAA that is French, doesn't?Noa or something like that...why he's not in the eurobasket?

[DanMajerle]

It's not funny what the refs are doing, Nowitzki gets absolutely no call.

[Trifilli]

Nowitzki is such a beast...I'm amazed every time again by him.

[T.W.Is.M.]

Nice game so far.Nowitzki is outstanding in the 2nd quarter.Parker is also very good and leads France, Pietrus was there hitting 2 straight 3s when Germany tied and we r watching a good game.France is the favorite, they lead 47-39, but I'd like Germany 2 get closer and watch a thriller and I'd prefer 2 c Dirk lead Germany 2 victory.

[Sky7]

enyone have a live brodcast on the net?

[SlickroX]

Was wrong, the game is on Sopcast 14978, just checked.
Thanks for that, its working, but lag is to big :/

[damelo]

P.D. There are a boy in de NCAA that is French, doesn't?Noa or something like that...why he's not in the eurobasket?

because he wasn't officialy French.

His name is Joakim Noah, son oh Yannick, famous singer and former Roland Garros winner (1983). He was raised in New York and could play for US, Sweden, Cameroun or France. He said he wants to play for France, but, for the moment, we don't need him. And he never played in europe.

[T.W.Is.M.]

because he wasn't officialy French.

His name is Joakim Noah, son oh Yannick, famous singer and former Roland Garros winner (1983). He was raised in New York and could play for US, Sweden, Cameroun or France. He said he wants to play for France, but, for the moment, we don't need him. And he never played in europe.

Why so?Your starting center is Weis!I suppose Noah is way better...

[Mocho]

because he wasn't officialy French.

His name is Joakim Noah, son oh Yannick, famous singer and former Roland Garros winner (1983). He was raised in New York and could play for US, Sweden, Cameroun or France. He said he wants to play for France, but, for the moment, we don't need him. And he never played in europe.

Thanks for the information :)

[Fearless]

great team effort from france but what a poor officiated game, I understand that star treatment it' wrong but Dirk got hacked out-there...

[Floppy]

another poor performance by the refs

there has to be better refs in europe than these

[Reflex]

I see France is back on track :) I always considered France as a good team and if they will be improving they'll be one of top4 teams.

Congrats to France! :D

[Fearless]

oh i forgot to mention the 3, i repeat 3 intentional fouls made up by the refs... my god...

[ballinette]

oh i forgot to mention the 3, i repeat 3 intentional fouls made up by the refs... my god...

I guess these fouls were made by the German players, not by the referees, no ?

[Fearless]

I guess these fouls were made by the German players, not by the referees, no ?


made up means invented, prepared my friend! I'm not questioning there were fouls there but I've seen bigger contacts not called at all, also in this game...

[ballinette]

Good game for the French today. Not yet the perfect one, but they played far much better than against Slovenia. ;)

[Buducnost PG]

Good game for the French today. Not yet the perfect one, but they played far much better than against Slovenia. ;)

But this team need a very good shooter. Edwin Jackson could be one in 2-3 years. Together with Noah in the Frontcourt and your team would be a way stronger then it is now.

[ballinette]

made up means invented, prepared my friend! I'm not questioning there were fouls there but I've seen bigger contacts not called at all, also in this game...

Those 3 fouls were clearly intentionnal.
It's not a question of "big" contact or not : when the player stop a fastbreak or catch the arm of another one without making any effort to defense, IT IS an intentionnal foul.
Unfortunally, and I agree with you for that, this kind of fouls are to often considered as normal fouls :mad:

[ballinette]

But this team need a very good shooter. Edwin Jackson could be one in 2-3 years. Together with Noah in the Frontcourt and your team would be a way stronger then it is now.

We didn't shoot bad today, but you're right : we still miss the guy that can be a great shooter at each game ;)

[Floppy]

Those 3 fouls were clearly intentionnal.
It's not a question of "big" contact or not : when the player stop a fastbreak or catch the arm of another one without making any effort to defense, IT IS an intentionnal foul.
Unfortunally, and I agree with you for that, this kind of fouls are to often considered as normal fouls :mad:

Oh please. Basketball already turned into a pussy game throughout the last 10 years allowing close to no contact at all anymore.

[DanMajerle]

The thing is that Dirk is defended very hard, ok, but then the Refs have to call it and they often call the same situations when Germany is on defense almost every time. Just because Dirk is a very good player Refs don't have to equalize it by calling no fouls when he goes to the basket.

Well, however, we wouldn't have won it anyway as France was just too good today, especially Parker and Turiaf, and we missed intensity.