Before taking this Sunday, August 28 by private flight to Cologne where Euro 2022 will start for it against the Germans, the French team is playing this Saturday (8 p.m. on France 4 and Be In sport), a last test before to dive into the deep end.
Please note, this is not a preparation match like the others.
Like the match in Paris won on Wednesday against the Czech Republic (95-60), the Blues are playing a new qualifying match for the 2023 World Cup.
In Sarajevo against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Olympic vice-champions can, in the event of victory, almost certainly validate their ticket for the future World Cup in Japan, in particular: “After our victory against the Czechs, analyzes coach Vincent Collet, we are four wins ahead of them.
We have five games left to play.
If we actually win in Bosnia, I don't know if, mathematically, we will qualify but it will almost be done.
Unless the Czechs win all their last matches and if we lose them all.
“These last games normally without stake therefore will take place in the fall, without the NBA and Euroleague players.
In Sarajevo, in a historic and boiling room, the Blues must therefore impose themselves at all costs for many good reasons.
Here is one for example: during the Euro on the banks of the Rhine, they will play again against Bosnia-Herzegovina from September 6th.
A successful entry would clear things up.
See you tonight 💪🏽 https://t.co/0k6jPk51Wr
— Andrew Albicy (@andrewalbicy) August 27, 2022
Beyond the challenge, the Blues have another mission in the Balkans: to reassure themselves about their start to the match.
This is the big downside of their summer preparation.
The France team misses its beginnings of match and that cannot last any more under penalty of big disappointment in Germany.
This could go through a change of 5 major composed of Thomas Heurtel, Evan Fournier, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, Guerschon Yabusele and Rudy Gobert: “This one does not work well together.
We have defensive largesse.
Offensively, we are impatient.
We will try to rebalance all that.
I'll think about it but I think it's important to change it, ”says Collet who should revive Andrew Albicy back in the group after a thigh injury in this starting five.
“We have a lot of players who are not completely in their costumes, continues the coach.
The absences of Nando de Colo, Nicolas Batum and Moustapha Fall change the hierarchy of the team.
We have to rebuild, it's not easy.
Some players want to take their part and, sometimes, it is done to the detriment of the collective.
Another challenge for the coach on the occasion of this last match: to define the group of 12 players who will fly to Germany.
For the moment, they are thirteen and at least one boy will bear the brunt of the selection.
Maybe two if the giant Moustapha Fall returns in time from injury.
In Sarajevo, Collet decided to leave Théo Maledon in the stands but that means nothing.
The Oklahoma City point guard is still likely to return.
The last test of the Blues this Saturday will deliver a lot of lessons.
