Completely opposite dynamic between France and Latvia. The first has just taken a severe slap against Canada, at the opening of the World Cup, where the second experienced, according to her coach, a ” historical moment by winning his first match in this competition, against Lebanon by a margin… of 39 points (109-70).
” We watched their match against Lebanon, we know where they are going and what they offer. We know it’s going to be a tough team to beat, at this stage of the competition, nothing is going to be easy. So we must stay united and seek victory », poster Guerschon Yabusele.
An imperative victory, otherwise the France team could experience a premature exit from the road. The concern, to hear the French interior, is that this heavy defeat against the troops of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was able to mark the spirits on the side of the opponents of the Blues.
” We are going to feel pressure against all the teams that we are going to face because we are going to be the team that everyone wants to beat now. After this first game, everyone thinks they have a chance to beat us “, assures the” Dancing Bear “, adding:” Obviously we have our backs against the wall now. »
Back to the wall collectively first, but also individually in some cases. Like Nicolas Batum or Elie Okobo, Guerschon Yabusele missed his start to the competition with a sad 4-point outing (1/4 on shots) and 2 rebounds in 20 minutes.
” We looked at what was wrong, how to improve. We obviously talked about Latvia. It’s time to prepare. It hurts to lose like that, but it’s not the end of the world. We can still bounce back “, Displays Evan Fournier, one of the rare French people to have blackened the statistics sheet in this match (21 points).
Among the challenges of this crucial meeting, it will be necessary to monitor the distant address of the Latvians (18/35 at 3-points against Lebanon) and above all the fact of maintaining a level of physical intensity and commitment for 40 minutes. And quickly forget this first meeting.
” It will be physical throughout the competition, everyone plays under the same conditions, every two days. Now is not the time to be tired, we must move forward and be competitive “, Claims Guerschon Yabusele.
