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the France team must bounce back to prepare for the rest

Abused on the rebound, whether offensive or defensive, clumsy at three points (1/15) and free throws (20/32): the Blues missed their match, Friday July 1, in the Podgorica room , in Montenegro (69-70). “We are all aware of what was missing, of what we did not do well on Friday eveningconcedes Vincent Collet, the coach of the Blues. There is a real will to react. »

After a smooth start to qualifying, with four successes in as many games, this setback shook the cards for the French team for the rest of the competition. The victory against Hungary, this Monday, July 4, at 8:30 p.m., at the Vendéspace in Mouilleron-le-Captif, immediately becomes “imperative”according to tricolor general manager Boris Diaw. “You have to arrive in the second phase with as many victories as possible, he assures. If we lose that match, we will all be at 4 wins with Montenegro and Hungary and for the future, it will not be easy. »

At the end of this meeting, the Blues will indeed start a second group phase for the qualifications for the 2023 World Cup, with a new international window, from August 22 to 30. The top three teams from Group E (which are likely to be France, Montenegro and Hungary) will move into a new pool, along with the top three teams from Group F (which are likely to be Lithuania, Bosnia and the Czech Republic) ). Since each team will keep its results during this second phase, a new setback in Vendée soil on Monday could greatly complicate the route of the Blues in their quest to qualify for the Asian World Cup. “This is the first thing I explained to the players: if we win, we will be two games ahead of Montenegro to get into the pool and three ahead of Hungary, thanks to the goal average.summarizes Vincent Collet. If we lose, on the other hand, we will have no margin of error on our opponents. We will be at the same level of victory. We can be in a borderline situation. »

“It’s been three years since they were with us”

The meeting on Monday evening is also the last rehearsal before the disclosure of the coach’s list for the Euro (September 1 to 18), which should fall around Wednesday July 6. Among the 12 players who currently make up the selection, more than half should not be traveling. “We will have a team that will be really differentadmits Vincent Collet. At least four or five players will join the September squad. » The two leaders Théo Malédon and Élie Okobo notably scored points during this rally, with 16 and 14 units registered each in Montenegro. “It’s been three years since they were with usdevelops the coach of the Blues. We see an interesting evolution in them for the future. »

Also read. Basketball. Boris Diaw talks about the Joel Embiid case before the matches of the France team

Thus, the places are expensive and the stakes multiple. Especially since the Blues will find the Hungarians again during the Euro, in a particularly tough pool, with Bosnia, Lithuania, Germany and Slovenia.

Basketball. Qualifications for the 2023 World Cup: the French team must bounce back to prepare for the rest

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