Strasbourg (AFP)

After the offensive festival (105 points) against Croatia and the fierce battle against the Czech Republic, the French set off to storm Russia on Sunday (8:45 p.m.) for their last group match of Euro-2021, with the aim of the first place and the direct ticket for the quarters.

So far all is going well for the Bleues of Valérie Garnier.

After a well-conducted preparation (six victories in as many meetings), they chained two successes in the sauna of Rhenus in Strasbourg and glimpse the first place of the group, which extends its arms to them.

On Sunday, the French women will pass an important test to gauge their claims to win the European title in a week in Valencia in Spain, with a clash against Russia, which has somewhat disappeared from the radar since its last continental triumph in 2011, but who returns with several young people lately.

Since then, the French have played and lost all the finals of the European Championships: in 2013, 2017 and 2019 against Spain, in 2015 against Serbia.

And this year, it is targeting only one metal, gold, fully assuming this status of favorites.

Mistrust is however in order for the teammates of Endy Miyem, who will have to avoid their "cute sin" as the pivot Héléna Ciak rightly points out, namely the start of the meetings.

Against Croatia, the first quarter was missed with 25 points conceded in ten minutes, while the defense is known as the strong point of this French team.

And 24 hours later, they clashed for a long time with the zone defense of the Czech Republic, before taking the upper hand physically at the end of the game (71-51).

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"It's true that it takes a little time to get into the match. Russia for me is a well-established team, and you really have to be careful," warned Héléna Ciak, the interior. of Asvel.

"It's super intense in defense, I think they are really impressive, they are everywhere. This is the team that is going to bother us the most."

In case of victory, the French women will have their direct ticket for the quarter-finals, and as a bonus two days of rest to allow the organizations, put to the test in the Strasbourg heatwave, to recover.

In a competition that lasts only eleven days with six matches on the program to go to the end, that would be a real plus.

© 2021 AFP