Group B: FRANCE, Lithuania, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Greece, Italy, Croatia, Ukraine, Great Britain, Estonia
Group D: Serbia, Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Israel, Netherlands
A ROYAL PLATTER
Never has a Eurobasket been so high. Almost all the major basketball nations will have at least one major NBA star in their ranks!
Serbia has not won a major competition since 2002 (the Worlds, then under the Yugoslav banner) but is counting on its double NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, eliminated from the play-offs with his Denver Nuggets franchise and quickly focused on this Euro , to win the gold medal.
In Group C, Greece, in decline for several years, brought together the three brothers AntetokoumnpoThanasi, Kostas and Giannis, the most famous, double MVP (2019, 2020) and NBA champion (2021) with the Bucks. Often cited among the five best players in the world, the interior single-handedly crushed Spain, in the qualifying match, with 31 points and 10 rebounds in just … 20 minutes. Croatia from Bojan Bogdanovic (Utah Jazz), Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers) and Dario Saric (Phoenix Suns) seems to have the most arguments to give him a hard time.
Opponent of France, Lithuania will have serious arguments to put forward in the racket with its “twin towers”, Jonas Valanciunas (New Orleans Pelicans) and Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings). In this same group, Germany will depend a lot on their leader Dennis Schröder (free agent), like Bosnia and Herzegovina from its pivot Jusuf Nurkic (Portland).
A year ago, Nicolas Batum sickened just over two million Slovenians with a monumental and decisive counterattack just seconds from the end of the Tokyo Olympics semi-final. Slovenia has not forgotten anything and is back to defend its European title with its brilliant leader Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks). The restless Klemen Prepelic and Goran Dragic, out of his international retirement, will be his lieutenants. And the revenge against France, for a real final before the hour, is planned from the first round…
THE FRENCH TEAM
After the bronze of the 2019 World Cup and the silver of the 2021 Olympics, will France win the gold medal? There is logically a big expectation, but also a lot of uncertainties around the French team of Vincent Collet. The Blues won five of their six preparation meetings (the last two counted for the 2023 World Cup qualifiers), but the defeat in Bosnia and Herzegovina, after two extensions, did not reassure at all. Clumsy, the Blues had also missed their start to the match against the Czech Republic, before unfolding.
Scrambles that can partly explain the many absences and a lack of automation. The packages of Arrageois Nando de Colo (Asvel, Elite) and Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers, NBA) were “planned”. Those of Victor Wembanyama, Frank Ntilikina, Moustapha Fall (still uncertain) and Andrew Albicy (finally returned to the group) a little less. With an introduction this Thursday against Germany, who had beaten them five years ago in the round of 16 of the last Euro, the Blues will be entitled to a first major test which should set the tone.
The phrase : ” It’s first place or nothing “, launched the pivot Rudy Gobert, who was not there during the European title of 2013.
The Blues group for Eurobasket:
Leaders: Thomas Heurtel (33 years old, 1.89m), Andrew Albicy (32 years old, 1.78m), Théo Maledon (21 years old, 1.93m); Rears: Evan Fournier (29 years old, 2.01m), Élie Okobo (24 years old, 1.91m), Terry Tarpey (28 years old, 1.95m); Winger: Timothée Luwawu-Cabarrot (27 years old, 2.01m) Strong wingers: Guershon Yabusele (26 years old, 2.03m), Amath M’Baye (32 years old, 2.06m) Pivots: Rudy Gobert (30 years old, 2.16m), Vincent Poirier (28 years old, 2.13m), Moustapha Fall (30 years old, 2.18m). Coach: Vincent Collet.
Blues matches:
– FRANCE – Germany, Thursday September 1 at 8:15 p.m.
– Lithuania – FRANCE, Saturday September 3 at 5.30 p.m.
– FRANCE – Hungary, Sunday September 4 at 8:15 p.m.
– Bosnia and Herzegovina – FRANCE, Tuesday September 6 at 2:15 p.m.
– FRANCE – Slovenia, Wednesday September 7 at 5 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE COMPETITION?
All matches will be broadcast on Canal + Sports 360, a new channel launched by the crypto group on Wednesday, August 31. The first two matches of the Blues will be accessible for free on the boxes (Free, Orange, SFR…). To find the France team in clear, it will be necessary to wait until the knockout matches (often at the time of the semi-finals in the event of qualification), if TF1, M6 or France Television decide to negotiate the broadcasting rights, as the law permits for major sporting events.