The Blue, back on the floors after the Olympic bronze conquered in Tokyo, missed their comeback as their entry.
The finalists of the last five Euro were weighed down by their failed start, resulting in 31 points conceded in the first quarter alone.
Their defense, which Jean-Aimé Toupane wants to make the "DNA" of this team, was put in pain by the sensational evening of the Ukrainian Alina Iagupova.
Present on the rebound (6) as on the pass (5), the double MVP of the Euroleague (2020 and 2021) especially stacked 33 points, including 18 in the first half of the match.
Logically, the French, led by their new captain Sandrine Gruda (preferred to Endy Miyem, holder of the role in Tokyo) were already far at halftime (54-37).
Particularly in difficulty, Gabby Williams signed a zero point (0/3 two points, 0/3 three points).
Gathered only since Sunday, the Blue have had only two real training sessions to discover the Toupane method and adapt to two novice leaders.
A series of injuries (Marine Fauthoux, Alix Duchet and Olivia Epoupa) forced the coach to offer their first selection to Caroline Hériaud (25) and Marie-Eve Paget (26), two regulars in 3x3 basketball - Paget even participated at the Tokyo Games in the discipline.
Les Bleues will have to react in front of their home crowd on Sunday against Lithuania at Villeneuve d'Ascq (4.30 p.m.).
Only the first team of their group (completed by Finland) and the best four second of the ten groups will qualify for Euro-2023 organized by Israel and Slovenia.
© 2021 AFP