Spain - France and a legendary rivalry: aggression, revenge and the ogre Scariolo

"If it hadn't been for Spain, I would have won 10 or 15 more medals."

The phrase, pronounced by

a few years ago, sums up a legendary rivalry that tonight (8:30 p.m., Telecinco) at the Mercedes Benz Arena is renewed for another gold.

Two unique generations that collided at the same time and now prolong their respective fairy tales.

The world champion, against the Olympic silver.

dear enemy...

"If it hadn't been for Spain", France would have won Eurobasket 2011, the only precedent of a final between the two (98-85).

Probably also the one from 2015, when

silenced Lille with 40 points seven years ago now.

The last time they met was at the Rio Games and, again, Spain won in the quarterfinals (92-67).

"We have had many important games and, indeed, there is a healthy rivalry, at least on our part. Perhaps it has been easier to have it healthy on our part... [smile]. And hopefully it will last longer. They are a great rival, with an expert coach who knows how to make many stars play together", Sergio

, the Gallic ogre, recalled yesterday: of seven official games with him on the bench, six were for Spain.

The team also suffered setbacks at the hands of the Gauls, none like that of the Palacio de los Deportes in 2014 in the national World Cup (with

).

Although the trend always harmed those of the eternal

(in office since 2009, like Scariolo himself).

They didn't always take it well.

, who today equals

in his fifth continental final (also

), the only vestige of the past decade together with

, suffered it in the meat of him.

In that 2011 final, a hard foul by the Balearic against Parker was recorded as an affront to the rival, who took revenge in a friendly a year later:

delivered a nasty punch to Rudy.

also

assaulted Navarro at the 2012 Games, in a match in which Rudy himself suffered a blow from

;

Spain, by the way, eliminated France in the quarterfinals.

ALBERTO NEVADOFEB

"We have earned respect", claimed Rudy himself yesterday and Scariolo spoke of being "intelligent": "Playing face to face is not convenient for us".

At this point, it is better not to talk about favorites, especially since this impossible Spain has broken all expectations and France has advanced in the tournament based on strokes of fortune: both in the round of 16 and in the quarter-finals, their rivals incredibly missed two free throws each in the outcome (the Turkish

and the Italian

) that they would have sent him home.

The team, which is playing its 10th continental final (three behind the USSR and two behind Yugoslavia) is looking for its fourth gold, shatters the predictions and grave giants.

Since the Belgian slap in Tbilisi, five wins, each one more amazing.

Neither the Turkey of

.

There are also plenty of proper names and stars for France, led by

(13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds), the king of the area, but also by

(7.1 assists), the only survivor of the 2013 gold. And Collet's X factor,

great defender.

“We have a nice challenge ahead of us.

Of course, very demanding against a team with great physical, athletic and technical talent.

A group that has been playing together for a long time.

With players from the NBA and the Euroleague And, once again, on paper, we did not come out with the favors of the forecast but we have managed more than once to reduce the gap that separates us and even end up winning, "said Scariolo.

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