By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
After a close win and a controversial last call in the group phase, Serbia and France are meeting again in the semifinal of FIBA World Cup in a game which is expected to be much more balanced than the win of USA over Lithuania. So here’s what we expect to see in the European duel.
Madrid: Serbia – France (22.00)
You can argue that both teams have already achieved more than expected in this tournament and you may have a point. Serbia is a young team, which is forming during this tournament and France with many absences, including Tony Parker, lacks a lot of its last year members which won the Eurobasket. Expect this to be an interesting game and if you really love basketball, there are two players who make things happen for their teams and you can’t but adore them.
French forward Boris Diaw and Serbian point guard Milos Teodosic are having so far a stellar tournament, being true leaders and giving the extra push to their teams in order to make the next step. Both are not the most athletic players of the world, but their basketball IQ is exceptional and their passing ability a joy to watch. So they will be once more key figures in the game.
That can be said also for the young blood. Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is emerging not just as a talent, but as a battle tested starter who can give instant offense to his team in any time. On the other hand, French center Rudy Gobert, specially against Spain, stole the show with his defense and in theory he can do it again in the semifinal. And one last point: So far Nicolas Batum is having a quiet tournament. He is a Eurohoops favorite and as you know great players step up in big games.
Here’s today’s official press conference.