Candidate for an Olympic medal, the French basketball team will have to wake up. Already defeated twice by her Spanish rival (86-77 in Malaga and 87-79 in Paris-Bercy), she again lost her footing against Japan 81-75, Sunday in Oshino Japan, her third loss in three preparation matches. “We missed some good shots that we got and that changed the game for Japan. This defeat is disappointing and frustrating. We will have to remember our start, which was far from the expected standards for the Olympic Games. It’s a reminder, a warning to be taken into account, ”underlined coach Vincent Collet.
Overall, the Blues have stammered too much their basketball, like thirteen ball losses and eight Japanese interceptions, like that conceded by Nando de Colo on a possession that could allow the French to take control at 74-74. Led by players now well established in the NBA (Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, etc.), the France team, bronze medalist at the 2019 World Cup, will have to raise its level of play to regain the podium. Spain, Argentina and the United States would see themselves eliminating them sooner.