2023-10-11 06:09:52
It’s Captain Nicolas Batum who says it. The French team is in the middle of a dangerous turn. The World Cup fiasco and his elimination in the first round caused him to have a nasty spin. In view of the Paris Games, it is now a question of not ending up in the background. A new failure next summer in Villeneuve-d’Ascq for the preliminary phase, then at the Accor Arena in Paris for the final phase would have dramatic repercussions.
“We have to focus on the Games, renew and start from scratch with a lot of humility,” said a long-time follower of the Blues. Without forgetting the successes or the medals of previous years, the blue house must get back on track. Having fallen from 5th to 9th place in the world rankings upon returning from Asia, France is no longer in a strong position before the most important meeting in its entire history. If she wants Olympic gold while the United States prepares an Avengers team, serious adjustments are necessary.
Vincent Collet confirmed…
This October 10, the coach will be confirmed in his functions. In office since 2009, Vincent Collet will end his contract in the summer of 2024. He remains the coach in the situation according to the FFBB. “Firing him by making him appear to be the scapegoat for the World Cup, even if he has his share of responsibilities, would have been a serious error forcing the federation to set up a commando operation with a foreign coach,” insists a person close to the Blues.
The Norman remains the best coach in history with his 7 medals won at the Games, the Worlds or the Euros. “Vincent submitted his resignation to us in 2016 and 2017 and twice I refused it because I believed he had the ability to bounce back and he did so. He will remain the man for the job to lead the team in 2024,” confirmed the president of the Federation Jean-Pierre Siutat on RMC. At the moment, at the end of August, the boss of French basketball had not yet signed a blank check for Collet, believing that his case “is part of the file to be opened and closed on October 10. We won’t sweep the dust under the rug. » Will this episode have weakened him?
…but with reinforced staff
With an assistant like Pascal Donnadieu, two of the best French technicians are in charge. With Boris Diaw as general manager, it is a blue legend who oils the cogs. But that’s not enough anymore. “In particular, you need someone with character, the legitimacy to look the players in the eyes, who will shout to put things back in place. That was lacking at the World Cup and it’s not Boris’s role who isn’t even on the bench during the matches,” judges a former international.
Who is legitimate enough, in tune with the new generations, to play this role? Florent Piétrus, European champion in 2013 and 230 caps under his belt, has the profile and does not hide his desire to join an expanded staff. Several executives are also pleading for a strengthening of the technical staff like what is done in the NBA. “Over there,” breathes Nicolas Batum, “the franchises have an army of guys who have analyzed the opponent so much that they know what system they are going to use at a given moment. We need this. »
The selection must be earned
It’s easy to say after the fact, but the group put together for the World Cup was shaky: no experienced leader, a player absent from preparation (Mathias Lessort) sent into the middle of a storm without reference and a manager, Evan Fournier , lacking rhythm because of his shelving by his NBA franchise.
Next summer, we will need a better team with 12 players who deserve their place and are not selected for their entire career. “Everyone has to compete now. The 12 are over, said Nicolas Batum on the First Team platform. It’s over, we have to stop with this. Me this, me that… We have to put everything back together. There are four leaders: Rudy, Evan, Nando and me. But even we have to compete. »
Which players around Wembanyama?
The case of Joel Embiid, who chose Team USA having been resolved, it is now Victor Wembanyama that all of France is waiting for. Barring a health problem, he will be one of the stars of Paris 2024. “Succeeding in the Olympics would be a great story. There will be no goal other than gold. I will of course be present at the Olympic Games,” promises the number 1 of the last NBA draft who had decided to skip the World Cup in August. Impossible to envisage the Games without him. This is also why Vincent Collet remains in charge: the trust between the two men is cemented.
And around “Wemby”? There is choice. France has one of the finest pools of players in the world. Drafted in 7th position by Washington, Bilal Coulibaly, for example, is knocking on the door. But he is not the only one.
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