“Re-impulse a dynamic”. This was Vincent Collet’s objective with this February gathering, the first since the fiasco at the last World Cup in Jakarta. And the last before the 2024 Olympics (July 26-August 11). Obviously, no NBA player. The French staff, on the other hand, was able to count on several elements who play in the Euroleague, which is something new. “There is no need to wait until the Games are prepared to start a new cycle, with a more conquering state of mind. And we don’t just have to talk about it, we have to do it,” insisted coach Collet before facing Croatia this Friday, in Brest, to begin qualifying for Euro 2025.
Message received, with a 73-61 victory for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (15 pts), Matthew Strazel (12 pts), Gerschon Yabusele (11 pts) and Mathias Lessort (10 pts). 22 points for Madrid’s Mario Hezonja. Under the eyes of the “footballers” from Stade Brestois, runner-up to PSG in the Ligue 1 standings, the Tricolores failed in their shots (66.7%) and committed 16 turnovers, leaving their opponents hopeful at the end of the game. Not perfect, then. They nevertheless left the visitors behind thanks to their defense (19 ball losses).
The two teams competed in awkwardness in a sluggish first quarter, with the Croats first on pole (2-7) before a French reaction (15-14 at the end of the 1st QT). Zaccharie Risacher quickly made his debut in Blue. Strazel had to wait until the second quarter, while the other rookie in the group, Nadir Hifi, was not selected for this match. Recent winner of the Leaders Cup, the Paris Basketball player will perhaps celebrate his first selection on Monday, in Tuzla, against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The fact remains that, despite losing the ball (7 in the first period), the Tricolores raised their voice and widened the gap with the gains of Luwawu-Cabarrot and Strazel, their first international points (25-18). Not the last ones. 10 units at 4 out of 4 at the break! The French defense did the rest (35-21). The Croats, however, remained alive before half-time thanks to a few distant successes (35-30 MT).
Despite a few small errors, a loss of the ball here, a missed throw there, France returned to its fundamentals at the restart, the defense, hard, stifling. And the gap grew quickly (43-30), the Croats being, for a time, limited to less than 30% on shots! The poster of the evening was signed Hezonja, on the muzzle of his Real teammate, Poirier, but the domination was very French (57-44 at the end of the 3rd QT, then 59-44), with in particular the Lessort site inside . Ebullient, said Hezonja started artificial respiration. He multiplied the exploits and brought his own, almost single-handedly, to within 10 points (66-57). Jaleen Smith (13 pts) also got involved (66-59, then 68-61). Alert ! France is down, with more losses of ball. Captain Andrew Albicy and Strazel made their mark with the shots (70-60) and Yabuele delivered the blow, at three points (73-61 final score). Curtain.
Remember that the French team was placed in Group E of the qualifiers for the next European Championship with Cyprus (automatically qualified as the organizing country), Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. We will have to finish in front of the Bosnians or the Croats in order to advance. The next qualifying window for Euro 2025 will be in November. Until then, Vincent Collet’s players will be expected in Villeneuve d’Ascq and Paris for the Olympic Games, who will play six preparation matches, including five in France. This time, it will obviously be with players playing in the NBA, Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum and a certain Victor Wembanyama. Bilal Coulibaly too? In the meantime, the basketball Blues have an appointment with Bosnia on Monday, aiming for two out of two.