Les Bleus with five neophytes, including Wembanyama, for the next international window

In the Cido Arena of Panavezys, a small town in the center of Lithuania, it is a significant page in the history of the France team which should be written on November 11th. Tipped as the future standard of tricolor basketball, Victor Wembanyama should experience his first selection in the tricolor jersey during a qualifying match for the 2023 World Cup against Lithuania. But the phenomenon of the Metropolitans 92 will not be the only rookie on the list since four other beginners appear in the group of Vincent Collet: Benjamin Sene, the oldest of all at 28 years old, Damien Inglis, and two former partners of promoted training, Yoan Makoundou and Ismaël Kamagate.

Two EuroLeague players called up

The presence of the Monegasque interior is also a small event in itself since it means that he was released by ASM while the Roca Team will play a EuroLeague match in Valencia the same evening. Paul Lacombe is also in the same situation: while ASVEL will receive Kaunas, he will be in Lithuania… From the top of his 32 caps, the Villeurbannais rear should also act as a guide for this young team, alongside another 2019 World Cup medalist, Axel Toupane. But the captaincy will probably go to Andrew Albicy, who, alone, compiles 46% of the selections of this group (86, against 100 in total for the 11 other players). The leader of Gran Canaria will not be the only vice-champion of Europe present since Terry Tarpey III has, unsurprisingly, also been summoned.

Cazalon and Massa also assessed

In addition to the trip to Panavezys, the Blues will host Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 14 in Pau. An opposition that will bring back bad memories since they were beaten in Sarajevo just before EuroBasket as part of these qualifications for the 2023 World Cup. A setback that relegated them to second place in Group K, just behind the Lithuanian leader, with six wins in eight games, but only two lengths ahead of fourth place in the playoffs. Gathered in Nanterre from Monday, October 7, the French team will also rely on two new training partners: Malcolm Cazalon, the prospect of Mega, and Bodian Massa, the intriguing pivot of Strasbourg.