Having fallen from a height during this World Cup in Asia, the Blues do not seem ready for drastic changes either. Probably rightly so. On October 10, at the Federation, the thinking heads of theFrench team will come together to learn the many lessons from this failure.
Until then, as we did for Team USA, we are wondering about the composition of the best possible French Team to wash away the affront during the next competition which is, neither more nor less, as the Olympic Games at home, Paris 2024.
Is there a leader on the plane?
Completely destroyed by Canadian aggressiveness from the very first match of the competition, the French attack was shaky throughout the tournament (19th with 81 points on average). Unable to play their game, especially on the inside, the Blues struggled offensively, wandering around the Philippine boards like lost souls…
In question, the management of the ball, the implementation of the systems and this recurring concern of the exterior/interior alternation. The playmaker position in short. On which Nando De Colo is not really a “natural”, more of a finisher by trade and instinct whose compatibility with Evan Fournier, particularly on defensive impact, is increasingly questionable. A position over which the shadow of Thomas Heurtel also loomed.
An absence which was highlighted by several senior players, including Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier. But also Vincent Poirier who gave his feeling on the networks : “You wanted to punish one player, but you punished a whole group”. A message deleted since…
The shadow of Thomas Heurtel
“Everyone must question themselves: players, coaches, federation, even up there. Everyone needs to question what happened this summer and why it wasn’t good. declared Nicolas Batum just after the elimination. “We are depriving ourselves of certain players, we are losing players because of certain conditions. Everyone needs to be fully involved.”
A return of Thomas Heurtel, still under contract in Russia, to Saint Petersburg is impossible as it stands, while the new generation of young French leaders is slow to emerge in his wake.
In 2024, Heurtel will be 35 years old, but the doors seem definitively closed, and we will have noted his absence during celebrations of ten years of the European title in Pau. This absence leaves the field open to Frank Ntilikina (25 years old) who was unfortunately injured at the worst of times, in full recovery of confidence in a key role at the forefront of the French defense at the front. To support him, Killian Hayes seems to be the most logical choice, especially since he knows FIBA basketball well, and will perhaps be more comfortable there.
“Even with the team we had, we should have done better“, observed Evan Fournier on RTL. “As for Victor Wembanyama, everyone talks about it, but he never campaigned with the France team, so there you go. As for Thomas Heurtel, it is a political decision that upsets many people. He’s my friend, my roommate, so of course I want him to be with us. »
Finally some new blood
Victor Wembanyama, the name is out! It is obviously he who represents the new French generation, vice world champion among the under-19s in 2021 in particular, and we must not forget that he participated in the last international windows with the “big ones”.
More generally, Evan Fournier does not want the pattern of 2016 to repeat itself, with the Olympics missed for the last competition of the Parker – Diaw – Pietrus generation. After a Euro 2015 at home which was also a little spoiled by a lack of renewal. According to him, we must evolve “ on how we must ‘scout’ young people, who we can bring into the French team earlier and earlier. I find that it’s a problem we have with how we organize ourselves. 2016 was a very good example where you really keep your old ones until the end, until the end, there is no renewal… »
With Nando De Colo and Nicolad Batum who will bow out on the international scene with this final Olympic deadline, the Blues must indeed balance their squad with a little new blood and youth. If only to revive healthy competition, and avoid, like at the World Cup, having no players aged 25 and under!
If in the lead, we think of Killian Hayes, but also of Théo Maledon, for external positions, there are many candidates, with Bilal Coulibaly, Ousmane Dieng, Rayan Rupert, Sidy Cissoko, Juhann Begarin…
Embiid or a flop?
Inside, there is traffic jam and paradoxically, this could be the big strong point of the Blues for 2024. Paradoxically because the game has never really been focused on this domination, and it is one of the big disappointments of world Cup. A not very influential Rudy Gobert. A little and poorly used Moustapha Fall. A Mathias Lessort who returned very (too) late. And finally a lonely Guerschon Yabusele.
The next generation is now assured under the circles with Victor Wembanyama, the first French No. 1 in the Draft, who should, logically, take part in his first major competition at home in Paris, for the Olympic Games, no less!
If we talk about the ideal squad, it is obvious that Wemby must be included, but a lot can happen during an NBA season, especially the first with such expectations and global hype around him.
And then, what about Joel Embiid? The Cameroonian pivot naturalized American and French has several choices for next summer. And he really doesn’t seem to have decided to decide, let alone announce it. Without mentioning that the 2023 MVP has one last option: stay at home to watch the Olympics on TV!
One thing is certain, if he decides to wear the blue-white-red jersey, his offensive impact would propel the Blues into another dimension. And that’s why French leaders are so patient with him.
A draft of an ideal squad
Leaders : Frank Ntilikina, Killian Hayes
Rears : Evan Fournier, Nando De Colo, Bilal Coulibaly
Wingers : Nicolas Batum, Ousmane Dieng, Isaia Cordinier
Strong wingers : Victor Wembanyama, Gueschon Yabusele
Pivots : Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert
Reservoir : Théo Maledon, Sylvain Francisco, Matthew Strazel, Terry Tarpey, Elie Okobo, Fabien Causeur, Yakuba Ouattara, Yoan Makoundou, Petr Cornelie, Ismaël Kamagate, Mathias Lessort, Vincent Poirier, Moustapha Fall…
Photo credit: Julien Bacot/FFBB
