We know the program of the Games.
And it will be as tantalizing, exciting as it is delicate, spicy and even “thorny” according to Bleues coach Valérie Garnier.
The draws for the group stages of the Tokyo Olympic Games (July 23 to August 8), carried out this Tuesday morning in Mies (Switzerland) at the headquarters of the International Federation (Fiba), were not very lenient for them. French women's and men's basketball teams.
Vincent Collet's players will face the United States from the start, triple reigning Olympic champions, then the winner of the TQO - which will take place at the end of June and beginning of July in Victoria in Canada, with in particular Greece of the double MVP 2019 and 2020 of NBA Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Canada with its many NBA players - then finally Iran.
Draw @ Tokyo2020
The three groups of the men's tournament 🔥 # TeamFranceBasket pic.twitter.com/077uSox5Kt
- French Basketball Teams ⛹️♂️⛹️♀️ (@FRABasketball) February 2, 2021
The United States revenge after their elimination by France in 2019
To qualify for the quarter-finals, the French will have to finish one of the first two places in this group, or among the two best thirds of the three groups of this first round.
A complicated but not impossible mission for the bronze medalists at the 2019 World Championship in China.
For the record, Nicolas Batum's partners had also achieved the feat of beating the USA in the quarterfinals of this World Cup.
So there will be revenge in the air.
"They are the favorites and will certainly be revenge against us," says Vincent Collet.
The good news is that we won't be able to face them in the quarter-finals if we pass.
But I'm not happy with this draw because we fell into a very difficult group.
For the rest of the competition it would be good to finish second in the group.
"
Three days after the end of the NBA Finals
Despite an entry of “Games” raised, the Blues also retain strong ambitions and dreams of medals.
The only international charm missing from their charts.
“Our goal remains the podium and on the highest possible step, assures Vincent Collet, who had seen his team stopped in the quarterfinals by Spain in 2012 and 2015. It's a high goal, but in sport, it happens sometimes incredible things.
But you have to approach the competition step by step.
There is not much difference between a podium and an early elimination.
"
The presence of the NBA Frenchies is expected, even if the Olympic tournament will begin on Sunday, July 25, three days after a possible decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Matches which Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers) and Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) could claim.
Placed in group B, the Blue will face the United States, Japan and Nigeria in the first round 💥
More info and reactions from Valérie Garnier ⤵️ # EDFBasket https://t.co/PVlrNlVQRR
- French Basketball Teams ⛹️♂️⛹️♀️ (@FRABasketball) February 2, 2021
Undefeated Americans since 2006
Unhappy - but heroic - finalists against the United States in London in 2012, the players of the France team will find - like the Blues - the United States during the group stage.
The French women, 4th in Rio in 2016, will also face Japan, the host country, and the double champions of Africa, Nigeria.
The Americans are undefeated in official competitions since the semi-final of the 2006 World Cup, lost in September 2006 against Russia.
Since then, they have chained 57 straight wins.
They are six-fold reigning Olympic champions (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016).
“We followed the draw live,” indicates coach Valérie Garnier.
There are two ways of looking at it.
The first is that we will avoid the United States in quarterbacks if we pass.
The second is that we fell into a very strong group and that the decision will undoubtedly be made at the point-average.
The smallest game, the smallest point, will be important for the classification.
I don't think that we can make significant gaps in our group where all the teams are equal.
We will start against Japan, so we will be in difficulty from the start with a crucial match.
"
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But as for the boys, the objective of the Blues will be "to get an Olympic medal" says Garnier.
By then, before the Tokyo Games, Marine Johannès' teammates will compete in the European Championship from June 17 to 27, co-organized between France and Spain.
The Olympic tournament formula
In Tokyo, a draw will be made at the end of the group stage, to constitute the final draw (quarters, semi-finals and final).
The first three and the best runner-up will be seeded, and two teams from the same group will not be able to compete in the quarter-finals.
At the end of the group stage, a new draw will be made to constitute the final table (quarters, semi-finals and final).
The first three and the best runner-up will be seeded, and two teams from the same group will not be able to compete in the quarter-finals.
Composition of groups:
For gentlemen
Group A:
Iran, FRANCE, United States, TQO winner played in Victoria (Greece, China, Canada, Uruguay, Czech Rep., Turkey)
For the ladies
Group B:
Nigeria, Japan, FRANCE, United States