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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
One point, one possession, one shot that changes everything. On Sunday, July 27, the France U18 team snatched a 66-65 victory against Greece in their third group game of the EuroBasket Division A. Three days earlier, the Bleuets had already shown signs of character. This time, they pulled off a comeback that the scoreboard only half tells.
Trailed by about ten points in the first period, the French battled against a Greek team led by an unstoppable Chrysostomos Chatzilamprou. The Greek guard compiled 23 points, finding shooting angles that the French defense took twenty minutes to start closing down. Greece dominated the rebound 45 to 31 and displayed superior shooting accuracy (39.7% vs. 31.8% from the field). All statistical indicators pointed toward a Greek success.
Trailed by about ten points in the first period, the French battled against a Greek team led by an unstoppable Chrysostomos Chatzilamprou.
Yet, this scenario was not a foregone conclusion. The French staff had identified the weaknesses in Greece's defensive transition before the game, but the energy had to follow. In the first half, the legs were heavy and defensive rotations systematically arrived a step late. The adjustments were to come after the break.
A third quarter that turns everything around
The turning point came after the pause. The French coach tightened the defensive lines and demanded more off-ball movement on offense. The bench entries brought the energy that the starting five, suffocated by Greek intensity, was missing. France chipped away possession after possession, forcing Greece to play on increasingly uncomfortable shot-clock endings.
The money-time delivered its share of thrills. At 65-64 for Greece in the final seconds, France found the gap on a quick inbound play. The winning basket fell, then the defense held firm on Greece's last attempt. The measured celebrations of the Bleuets betrayed both relief and joy: this success puts France in a favorable position for the rest of the competition. This kind of finish builds an identity. Youth selections live for these moments where the game plan fades before character.
A Group A that is taking shape
This victory brings France to two wins in three games in Group A. First place remains within reach before the decisive matches of the week. The EuroBasket U18 format, with its tight group stages followed by a knockout bracket, forgives no complacency. The head coach knows his group has just passed a maturity test: winning a game that statistics condemned. Group A is one of the toughest in the tournament, and a defeat would have placed the Bleuets in a delicate position before the last two group games. Now, they hold their destiny in their hands.
Chatzilamprou, despite the loss, confirmed his status as a prospect to watch. His 23 points, along with a constant presence in duels, make him one of the most prominent players of the tournament. On the French side, the collective victory masks the absence of a dominant scorer: the scoring came from everywhere, a sign of a balanced roster but also a lack of a clear offensive reference that the coming days will need to address. The French defense, battered in the first period, eventually found solutions: contesting every outside shot, forcing Greece away from the rim, multiplying screens to free up shooters. The adjustments paid off, proof that this group learns fast.
The Bleuets' next game awaits them on Tuesday. The goal is clear: secure qualification for the quarterfinals without relying on calculations. After such a scenario, the group has proven it knows how to suffer to win.
