Twenty-five average points, about eighteen short minutes to chase after the score and only four lost quarters out of sixteen contested … In four games in Strasbourg, the French women’s basketball team made a strong impression. Very strong.
It is not the 2001 European champions who will say the opposite. Invited Sunday in Alsace twenty years after their coronation, Yannick Souvré and his family appreciated the performance of their heiresses. “Yes, it’s a very good team, which can turn into a real steamroller,” confirms the former captain of the Bleues.
The one who is now director of the Women’s Basketball League (LFB) nevertheless refuses to compare the times. “I find that it doesn’t make sense. It’s not the same basketball, ”justifies the former leader, questioned about the place of the current team in the pantheon of French teams. “It’s always complicated to assess one generation against another, there are a whole bunch of factors that come into play,” says Cathy Melain, another monument of her sport.
The two former partners agree on another point: the main strength of Valérie Garnier’s group is its homogeneity. Never has he looked so complete with a top-level rotation. “There are quality players in all positions and each improves the team in their own way without pulling the cover for themselves. It’s super interesting, ”continues the former rear, joined by the current interior Helena Ciak. “We have a roster of twelve players capable of contributing, of playing hard. “
Within it, the mixture between the generations seems successful. Between the old guard of the thirty-something Gruda, Miyem, Tchatchouang, Michel, Ciak and Chartereau, the regulars (Chartereau, Vukosavljevic ex-Ayayi and Johannès) and the latest arrivals (Duchet, Ruppert, Williams). “A good mix of experienced girls, some who are reaching maturity and others younger,” summarizes Yannick Souvré.
This is verified first of all at the level of playing time, globally distributed. But also and above all in this ability of the Blue to offer permanent intensity to their opponents. Until they crack. “We are instructed to maintain a constant level of play and we give everything,” confirms Ciak, acknowledging a little cute sin, more sluggish start to the match, as again Wednesday against Bosnia-Herzegovina (8-13, 6th) .
“The best team I’ve played in”
Not serious or crippling. The proposed big defense then produces its effects. With effective transition play. “We let them run and it’s very good like that, it’s modern basketball to take shots quickly,” still appreciates Cathy Melain, today at the head of the junior boys at the France pole.
But then, what could derail these Blue during this Euro? “We spoke before the competition and we said that our worst opponent would be ourselves,” replies Endy Miyem. Throughout the preparation and in the first games, we saw that we could be faced with teams that posed a problem for us but that when we manage to play our way, it smiles on us. “And that creates impressive gaps, even if it means sometimes making the opposing team look like a simple sparring partner.
Or it is simply the Blue who are too strong… “It is very likely that this is the best team in which I have played! I don’t want to denigrate others because I don’t know the whole story, but this one has a little something extra. “But not yet a European gold medal, as in 2001 and 2009. Nor Olympic, as in 2012 with the silver. This summer could make it possible to repair the anomaly …