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NBA

France Obliterates Italy, Makes Case for Eurobasket Run

Posted Aug 14, 2009 6:15PM By Tom Ziller (RSS feed)

Filed Under: FIBA

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Perenially disappointing France dropped some jaws today by destroying Italy in last-gasp Eurobasket qualifying, ratcheting up a 81-61 win on the cape of healed Tony Parker (23 points, 5 assists). The French have assured themselves a place in the Eurobasket play-in game, which will be decided late next week. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the likely foe, though Belgium (where Parker was born) can bully in.

The Italians had been the favorite to move on from the qualifier, but they're bruschetta toast. Not only will Italy miss Eurobasket for the first time since 1961, but the Azzurri will also likely miss the 2010 World Championships. It could be argued that the break-up of Yugoslavia and the U.S.S.R. has hurt Italy's performance, as a host of Slavic states and former Soviet republics have leaped the Italians in international competition.

Or, it could be that Italy's talent base is anemic. Star Andrea Bargnani, the pride of Italian basketball, had an awful game in the Pyrenees today, finishing with just five points and five rebounds in 27 minutes. In last week's game against France (another Italian loss, though that one contested), Bargs had only 10/4 in 32 minutes. The French combo of Ronny Turiaf and Boris Diaw has thoroughly flummoxed Il Mago.

Unless Bargnani can fulfill his potential in future summers, his international career could whisk by without the Italians ever rejoining the main stage of competition. I mean, Dirk Nowitzki represents a nation far less intertwined with the game, and Germany manages to make the Olympics and Worlds, let alone Eurobasket. Italy's in a bad way, and instead of helping as a hero Bargnani has been part of the problem.

Tags: Andrea+Bargnani, AndreaBargnani, Tony+Parker, TonyParker

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