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BASKETBALL: Euro-2011: France beat Italy and qualify for the second round

AFP - France qualified for the second round of the Eurobasket by winning against Italy (91-84) their fourth victory in four matches in Group B on Sunday in Siauliai.

This new success sends the Blues in Vilnius, held the second round, even before their last first round match against Serbia on Monday, but Tony Parker has not played the last ten minutes, apparently shot in the left leg.

The star of the Blues got hurt in the second Quarter of a contact.He returned to the field after the break but not for long, content to follow from the bench the last ten minutes when his teammates were still makes the difference even after being led 67-60 in the 30th minute.

His injury did not look too bad since it was seen jumping when Boris Diaw (21 points) and Nicolas Batum (20 points) have packed the meeting at the end. But he limped out into the field.

The severity of the injury to Parker will obviously depend greatly the chances for the French after the tournament will not see Italy, already eliminated, and thus departed from the race for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Sensational in the first three matches, the French leader was defeated on penalties Sunday (3 of 11 for 8 points).The good news is that the Blues, with excellent contributions from the bench, has earned him a match without stifling that Bargnani (22 points) and Belinelli (18 points) have long flown.

This qualification is a first step but the road remains long.The meeting will also Serbian Monday just anecdotal since fifth victory would allow the Blues to begin the second phase with maximum points and take an option already on the quarter-finals.

A defeat, however, the weights a bit, even if they are already certain not to arrive empty pockets in Vilnius, which is essential before facing the superpowers such as Spain, Lithuania and Turkey .

The happiness of Blues Sunday contrasted with the plight of the Italians, who will be eliminated and not the Olympics for the second time in a row, their vice-Olympic champion in 2004.