After Lithuania – France (65-90) / Victor Wembanyama: “This confidence, I will never lose it”

And from the start. Wembanyama ideally started his international career by scoring the two points for the Blues against the Lithuanians. A tap after a missed shot which already announced its domination under the racket. The front row of a remarkable stat sheet: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. But above all, this visual impression of a player with sprawling arms, dominating at all levels, who pulls an entire team up without his opponent being able to find the solution to stop him.

In the wake of Wembanyama, the young tricolor guard has indeed done an impressive job. Sylvain Francisco, author of 21 points and a full house behind the arc (5/5), perfectly illustrated the phenomenon. He also benefited from the increased surveillance of the Lithuanian defense on the French basketball prodigy to find more open shots and contribute to the excellent collective performance of the Blues. “The biggest accomplishment is never giving them hope that they could get back into the game, judged Wembanyama. We stayed calm and everyone had a lot of fun tonight.”

Collet: “I don’t know if it’s scary…”

Under his leadership, France inexorably broke away and Vincent Collet was able to open his bench in the fourth quarter. Wembanyama was able to be satisfied with the job done even if his finally reduced playing time (24 minutes) did not allow him to go for the record of Robert Busnel, author of 30 points for his debut for the France team in 1934. “The record is at 30? There was roomhe said, laughing. But the coach saved me in the fourth quarter, it’s normal, there is a match on Monday. It’s nice to be in good company, but you can always do better.”

This is the impression given by Wembanyama, and it allowed him to pass this course successfully. And relying on the advice of Collet, who suggested he stay himself to be dominant. “I tried to keep my habits to the maximumhe commented. What Vincent says confirms to me that I am right to believe in myself, in my abilities. In difficult times, I only have to refocus and turn to myself and what I know to find the right mental disposition. This trust, I will never lose it.” And it promises.