A year after missing the Euro in Germany to protect themselves, veterans Nando De Colo (36) and Nicolas Batum (34) will participate in the World Cup with the France team, from August 25 to September 10 in the Philippines, in Indonesia and Japan. Deprived of Victor Wembanyama and Franco-Cameroonian Joel Embiid, coach Vincent Collet announced his selection of 12 players this Wednesday evening on the show all sportson France 3.
Inside Mathias Lessort, future Panathinaikos player coming out of a brilliant Euroleague season with Partizan Belgrade, is one of them, unlike Real Madrid pivot Vincent Poirier. Among the back lines, the surprises are, as leader, Sylvain Francisco (Peristeri, Greece) and as winger, Yakuba Ouattara, captain of Monaco, recent champion of France.
Asked about the absence of Victor Wembanyama, who, after proclaiming his desire to play it, announced on Monday that he was giving up competition to focus on his future first season in the NBA and the 2024 Paris Olympics, Collet refuted Wednesday in front of the press the term of treason put forward by a journalist.
“I think what he said before was quite sincere [sur le fait de vouloir jouer le Mondial]. It was really a reflection with his entourage that led to this decision “a few days after being chosen in first position in the NBA draft, said Collet, who said he was” inevitably a little surprised and disappointed “.
Mitigating circumstances for Wembanyama
“We don’t measure what he is going through: there are a lot of expectations and things around him that made him fear overheating,” he added, however. “Wemby”, whom he trained this season at Boulogne-Levallois, is “in a situation where he does not belong completely”, continued the coach.
The management did not replace Wembanyama (19 years old, 2.24 m) with an interior. So there are only four in the list. On the one hand because Collet also intends to “use Nicolas Batum”, rather a winger (position 3), at position 4 (strong winger) thanks to his quality of passes. ” Last year [lors de l’Euro, terminé par une défaite en finale contre l’Espagne, 88-76] we misused our inner dominance because they [les intérieurs] were poorly served. Nando’s reintegration [De Colo] and Batum should make it possible to do better” developed Collet.
Ouattara the “figure breaker”
On the other hand because the coach plans to make Mathias Lessort, who has been playing pivot for several seasons, occupy the position of strong winger behind the indisputable holder Guerschon Yabusele. “There will be real preparation work to invent alternative ways of doing things, so that Mathias can be associated with Fall. It can be a way for us to impact the opponent, ”explained Collet.
The notion of complementarity also guided Collet’s choice to select Yakuba Ouattara, winger or fullback and captain of Monaco, champion of France 2023. As with ASM, Ouattara, an excellent defender, could be charged, “especially if the leader of ‘opposite is dominant’, to ‘beat him in the face for 6 or 7 minutes’ to set the tone.
The other surprise among the back lines is the presence of Sylvain Francisco. Explosive pocket leader (1.79m), convincing with the Blues during the season and with his Greek club Peristeri, he was preferred to veteran Andrew Albicy, Rodrigue Beaubois also experienced but never called, or Killian Hayes.
Leader, sensitive position
“This is the position on which we hesitated the most. We couldn’t afford the luxury of taking two small point guards [Albicy et Francisco]knowing that Frank Ntilikina (also retained) is more of a defender like Andrew”, commented Collet.
Collet finally welcomed the return of De Colo and Batum, 340 selections between them. “They make it easier for other people to play. I think it will be easier for Evan [Fournier] to evolve alongside them, whereas last year [à l’Euro] he was almost identified as the ultimate threat. This will rebalance our game, ”said the coach.
The list of 12 Blues:
Guards-backs: Nando De Colo (Asvel), Frank Ntilikina (Dallas Mavericks, NBA), Sylvain Francisco (Peristeri, GRE), Elie Okobo (Monaco)
Wingers: Evan Fournier (New York Knicks, NBA), Yakuba Ouattara (Monaco), Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers, NBA), Terry Tarpey (Monaco)
Interiors: Guerschon Yabusele (Real Madrid, ), Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA), Moustapha Fall (Olympiacos, GRE), Mathias Lessort (Panathinaikos, GRE)