Euro female basketball: a great start of the Blue - South West

Endy Miyem (9 points) takes over Liene Jansone. (Ph. afp)

In the warm atmosphere of the new Arena Trélazé Loire (Maine et Loire), packed the “Braqueuses” showed why they were huge favorites of the Euro. After atomized Latvia, they will seek to confirm this evening (21 hours) against Serbia.

Latvia is certainly not the best one of all European nations, but it has good references, having finished fourth in 2007. Two years ago, she even beat France (56-59) in the first round. But yesterday, after Celine Dumerc, the tricolor captain had received the trophy for best European player of the year in 2012, the Baltic, handicapped by the absence of some old, have not weighed very heavily. They were shattered against the physical impact of El Tri, who imposed a steel defense by completely closing the circle to access Latvian women.

incorporation into the five major winger on the position of the young Diandra Tchatchouang (22 years), France aligns three players in five 1.89 m and more. It is this physical difference that allowed the French to fly early in the match, compensating for their aggressiveness to the basket a certain awkwardness midway due not to own excitement in his first game.

After a good passage of Anael Lardy, France had already dug a significant difference (20-9, 13). Pierre Vincent, the national coach, took the opportunity to rotate his squad. After just one quarter of play, twelve Bleues had walked the floor.

Yacoubou while power

only marked 14 points at the break, Latvian women suffering from the comparison to the delight of the audience, happy to support the team that had done so much to dream last summer Olympics in London, winning the

silver.Assented quickly

two offensive fouls early in the game, Isabelle Yacoubou, showy with her hair dyed blue, sinking a little Latvia with nearly 9 points in the third consecutive quarter (46-22, 26th) .

A little too easy, perhaps, the French were forgotten for a moment in defense and let their opponents grab a few rebounds and inflate a little of their total points. But Yacoubou, the “Baby Shaq” (referring to the old pivot NBA Shaquille O’Neal) Team France, did not stop in so good way. It required his inimitable style inside to swell away.

“It was a small moment of hesitation including defense, explained the inner of Blue Endy Miyem. We expect this meeting forward. This is the first correct match. We have not done too much of defensive errors. We are on track, we must continue like this. “