The rear of the Knicks was appointed captain of the France team in the absence of Nicolas Batum. Rudy Gobert, he inherits the role of vice-captain.
Who to succeed Nicolas Batum as captain of the Blues? This is the question that the staff of the France team had planned to answer after a “meeting of shared intelligences“Scheduled Thursday, as indicated by Vincent Collet at the beginning of the week. It was finally Evan Fournier who won the timpani.
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At 29 and from the top of his 80 selections, the rear of the Knicks, the Blues’ top scorer in the last three major competitions presented the “suitable profile“says coach Collet. And this even if the main interested party did not claim anything. “It’s not something I claim, I don’t necessarily have a particular desire to be captain“, said Ile-de-France on Tuesday, in Nanterre. And to add:Leadership happens naturally in the field. It will be the decision of the coaches and it will be respected, that’s all.»
In any case, Fournier already appeared as one of the leaders of this team, bronze medalist at the 2019 World Cup and silver, last summer at the Olympics, with Rudy Gobert (29 years old, 74 caps.) . The latter inherits the role of vice-captain. Fournier leader on the ground and also not stingy with comments in front of the press. Spokesperson? “No, I am a leader of the team, very clearly, I have a certain weight in relation to that, that I am one of the most capped, one of those who has the most experience. But it stops there. It’s just a story of personality, experience“Said the former Poitevin again.
Logical choice
Remember that Batum is absent this summer, a personal choice, before returning to business next summer for the 2023 World Cup and the next, for the Paris Olympics. Nando de Colo is also absent and Andrew Albicy, who could possibly have claimed the position this summer, is out until further notice. Captain during the last window, Amath M’Baye started from afar. In terms of experience, Thomas Heurtel could possibly have joined in the discussion, but the choice therefore ultimately fell on Fournier, the logical choice, even if Gobert had at least as many arguments. The two thieves will lead the selection hand in hand until Euro 2022, from September 1 to 18, in Germany.
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First trial run, and Evan Fournier’s first match as captain, this Sunday (5 p.m.), in Rouen, against the Netherlands. Then, another three warm-up matches and two matches counting for the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.
