Already qualified for the 2023 World Cup, which will take place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia next August, the France team received this Sunday in Trélazé (Maine-et-Loire) the other big piece of group K, Lithuania (2nd). Vincent Collet’s men secured their first place in the standings in this last qualifying match and earned valuable points in order to remain seeded in the group draw.
In a festive atmosphere at the Arena Loire (5,000 spectators), the Blues, without their stars playing in the NBA and the Euroleague, must first contain Lithuanians led by the elusive Margiris Normantas, who allows the Balts to turn into lead at the end of the first quarter (11-14). The efficiency of Bodian Massa, the Strasbourg player who released his first selection, and Limougeaud Nicolas Lang then made the difference. At the break, France has a small advantage (35-27), far from reassuring coach Vincent Collet.
Except that the Olympic vice-champions have a status to defend. The French team had won during the first leg (90-65) with in particular a strong performance from Victor Wembanyama (20 points). Below his usual statistics with his Boulogne-Levallois club, the new nugget of tricolor basketball, still as spectacular (smash then counter on the next action), asked to join the bench in the middle of the third quarter time.
“Victor allowed us to win at the end of the match”
To reassure everyone, Andrew Albicy then makes his experience speak. The defense is still as intractable (only 43 points conceded in 30 minutes) and recovers a maximum of balloons but that is not enough and Lithuania returns (53-50, 34th) then even passes in front (57-58). “Wemby” is back on the floor and gives his team some air (62-58) before finishing with a bang (15 points). The public can sing La Marseillaise in unison.
“I wanted to play a good match for my first selection, smiles Bodian Massa at the microphone of France 4. I was given my chance, I had to take it. I could have been the black cat but Victor allowed us to win at the end of the game. »
The preparation program of the French team for the World Cup is already known. The Blues will meet Tunisia in Pau (July 27), another European team also qualified in Montpellier (August 2), Argentina in Orleans (August 8), and again Lithuania twice (August 9 and 11 , in Orléans and then in Lithuania). The World Cup draw will take place in Manila on April 29.
