Tony Parker poured in a game-high 36 points to give unbeaten France (2-0) a 69-62 triumph over Italy (0-2) 

With the score at 60-60 with three minutes remaining, Les Bleus went on a 9-0 run, with Parker scoring four points in that game-winning surge.

He finished 12 of 22 (55%) from the field, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists.

"I felt I had to be aggressive," said Parker."It’s just basketball, it comes and it happens. Every game is going to be different and I don't think I need to score 30 points every time because the French team is better than that. We can all play together and tomorrow it will be a different game.

"We have to improve on our offense but as long as our defense works we can win games."

		Belinelli finished with 15 points but it wasn't enough

Andrea Bargnani, who led Italy in scoring with 16 points, put his terrible start to EuroBasket 2007 quickly behind him.

He scored the first seven points of the game, while it took France five minutes before they scored a point and only when Parker buried a three-pointer.

Thanks to their guard, who scored 13 points, France kept pace and only trailed 20-17 at the end of the first quarter.
 
A one-handed dunk by Boris Diaw tied the game at 22-22 midwway through the second period.

But Italy kept their noses in front as Bargnani continued to take care of the scoring. They went on a 6-0 run late in the period to take a 33-24 lead, with Massimo Bulleri adding four points in that surge.

Carlo Recalcati's men went into the break with a 36-31 advantage, with Bargnani leading the way with 13. Parker had 15 for Les Bleus

France stepped up their defense and limited Italy to just five points in the first eight minutes of the second half as they used a 18-5 run to take a 49-41 lead, with Parker accounting for 12 points in that surge.

Marco Belinelli's two-handed dunk allowed Italy to go into the last quarter trailing by only four, 51-47.

Stefano Mancinelli scored five consecutive points at the start of the final frame to get the Azzurris back in front, 52-51.

The teams then exchanged the lead before France pulled away to seal the win.

"I am partly satisfied because my team showed an improvement with respect to yesterday's game (69-68) defeat to Slovenia)," admitted Recalcati.

"However, I am disappointed with the result and with the fact that my team lost its character when it mattered. Parker made the difference."
Italy were a mere six of 13 (46%) at the free throw line while France were 12 of 16 (75%).

France outrebounded Italy 40-31.

France

Tony Parker: "I felt that I had to be aggressive. It's just basketball, it comes and it happens. Every game is going to be different and I don't think I need to score 30 points every time because the French team is better than that. We can all play together and tomorrow it will be a different game. We have to improve on our offense but as long as our defense works we can win games.

Coach Claude Bergeaud: "This was a key game for us because we didn't really know where we were after our last preparation game against Spain, which wasn't very good. Italy remain a competitive team. Offensively, Tony's outburst and his commitment to his team-mates was amazing, but we need more balanced scoring and a better sharing of the ball."

Italy

Marco Belinelli on Tony Parker's performance: "What can you say about Parker, he is just a great player."

Coach Carlo Recalcati: "I am partly satisfied because my team showed an improvement with respect to yesterday's game (69-68) defeat to Slovenia). However, I am disappointed with the result and with the fact that my team lost its character when it mattered. Parker made the difference."

Recalcati on Andrea Bargnani's performance: "He showed an improvement with respect to yesterday's game. We have to remember that Bargnani missed several warm-up games due to injury. He is now fully recovered."

Marco Mordente: "The anger and bitterness that we feel right now should charge us up for tomorrow's game. We must bounce back from these disappointments. Fortune was not on our side tonight."

Italy will be looking to bounce back from Monday's bitter 69-68 defeat against Slovenia when they meet France on day two of the EuroBasket.

A Jaka Lakovic three-pointer at the buzzer stunned the Italians, who had failed to get out of first gear in the first half but made a strong comeback late in the fourth quarter to give themselves a chance to win the game.

Azzurri coach Carlo Recalcati will need big performances from promissing stars Andrea Bargnani and Marco Belinelli, who were kept in check by Slovenia.

Key Match-up: Italian guard Belinelli will be eager to get this game out of the way, going up

		Tariq Kinte Kirksay had a solid game in France's opener

against international superstar Tony Parker. This will be a sweet preview of future NBA battles.

Last time out: Not since August 2006, in a friendly in Berlin, have these two teams played each other. In that game the Italians beat France 79-65. However, in the 2003 EuroBasket, Les Bleus won their two games against today's opponents.

Statistics: Italy must improve their three-point shooting after making just four of 22 (19%) against Slovenia. France were outrebounded 36 to 32 in their opener against Poland and know they will face a battle on the boards from Recalcati's men. Keeping their turnovers down to a minimum and getting off to a good start in the game will be crucial if Italy wish to upset France.

X-factor: It will be interesting to see how Italy react to Monday's defeat. The Azzurri have shown this summer, they are able to overcome adversity and come up with the goods when they are under pressure.

Speaking out: "Although we have not played against Italy this summer, we have seen some of their games. Italy is a very strong team but if we play our game we should be ok. The two players to look out for are Marco Belinelli and Matteo Soragna. We know how important this game is for us as it is for them." - France guard/forward Boris Diaw.