MONTPELLIER (France) - Victor Wembanyama shone in Les Bleus' first two summer preparation games, scoring 49 points in 39 minutes. However, for the second game against Germany, he was rested, providing an opportunity to see how France would perform both offensively and defensively without him.
Meanwhile, Franz and Moritz Wagner made their debut for the World Champions this summer, making an immediate impact. Although the Germans were still missing Daniel Theis and Johannes Thiemann, they benefited from the size and scoring abilities of the Wagner brothers.
Germany came back from 11-point deficit in the first half to win this game 65-70.
The story of the game
Vincent Collet had to adjust the playbook and find new sources of points. He turned to Evan Fournier, who finished the first half with 10 points.
Despite Wemby's absence, the French defense remained strong, holding Germany to their first 2-point field goal in the second quarter. Mathias Lessort dominated under the basket, helping the hosts extend their lead to 13 points midway through the second quarter.
However, the Wagner brothers began to heat up, with Franz's offensive efforts bringing Germany to a tie at halftime. The visitors went on a 22-4 run across the halves, building their lead. Maodo Lo's step-back two-pointer set the score at 53-59 heading into the final quarter.
The game went down to the wire, with France feeling the pressure. Lessort missed a crucial pair of free throws, and Dennis Schroder sealed the deal at the other end.
The player of the game
Franz Wagner recently signed a significant new deal with the Orlando Magic, putting his summer under the spotlight. His performance at the Olympics will now be watched even more closely. In his first appearance for the national team this summer, he showed that he can carry the World Champions on his shoulders when needed the most.
The younger Wagner brother finished the game with 17 points (7-12 FG) in just 20 minutes on the court.
The stats of the game
Gobert's limited minutes allowed Germany to score 34 points in the paint.
France will also need to improve their free-throw shooting in crucial games this summer. Their 7-18 performance on Monday leaves a lot to be desired for Les Bleus.
The takeaways from the game
If French fans needed a wake-up call, this game was likely it. The Olympic hosts struggled offensively without Wembanyama, finding it difficult to score. Collet probably wasn't happy with some of the decisions his guards made down the stretch.
On the positive side, France's defense was solid once again, and Mathias Lessort proved to be a strong frontcourt option off the bench. Additionally, France appeared tired in the final stages of the game, reflecting their early stage of preparation.
As expected, the Wagner brothers were pivotal for the German team. With Theis and Thiemann still to return, the World Champions will soon have their optimal roster. They already looked much quicker and more confident than they did two days ago in Cologne, and their physical form will only improve. This suggests they will be formidable by the time the Olympics come around.
Germany's next preparation game is against Japan on July 19th, while France will face Serbia on Friday, July 12th. Both Germany and France have been drawn into Group B of the Olympic tournament.
FIBA