Vincent Poirier greeted his teammates one last time on Sunday morning. As they headed to Kindarena for a long training session, the new Anadolu Efes Istanbul center rushed into a van, wearing a protective boot to relieve the ankle he had suffered two days earlier.
The France group is therefore now reduced to 16 elements 72 hours before its first match of the 2024 campaign, against Turkey. And to say that the intensity is there is an understatement. “I’m very happy not to be a coach”smiles Guerschon Yabusele. Vincent Collet can fear getting himself into a few knots when the time comes, already imminent, to change his list. All the internationals are fully aware that they are facing a unique opportunity. One that will never come again in a lifetime. To compete in the Olympic Games at home.
And the quality of training is inevitably affected, especially since, as Jaylen Hoard points out, “There is talent everywhere.” The competition is fierce, particularly in the outfield positions, and not one Blue has approached the preparation with the certainty of seeing Paris. “Statuses must be left aside when you arrive at the national team. And your achievements at club put them out the window”insists Evan Fournier. “At each selection I feel threatened. Nothing is ever guaranteed. And this year even more so.”agrees Andrew Albicy, while the most capped of all, Nando De Colo, who is now flirting with 200 caps, refrains from playing Olympic guides for the youngest. “It’s a little early. It’s complicated to talk about what’s going to happen when you’re not sure you’re part of the adventure.”
The astonishing athletic level of the French team and the clear message received by the players that defense was a priority give rise to high-level oppositions, where talent sometimes makes the difference, but where each basket is contested. “The goal is to be the best defense in the tournament. We put a lot of energy into that in training and it shows. There are missed shots, not much transition play.”describes Elie Okobo.
Cohesion is the other key word of the 2024 campaign with a zero ego objective displayed by Rudy Gobert during the real kick-off of the preparation. Since Friday morning, players under NBA contract have been able to join their teammates during collective training and have raised a level that is already very high at INSEP. “In the past, by strictly respecting the 28 days authorized by the NBA before competitions, including rest days and travel, we were able to realize that it was insufficient. Maybe not for Team USA, but for all the other teams in the world it is impossible.”explained Vincent Collet about the ten days spent in the Bois de Vincennes to familiarize the newcomers with the selection and to put in place the bases of a game necessarily modified by the presence, for his first international competition, of Victor Wembanyama. “Mistakes will be made”warns Rudy Gobert. “Together we have to find what will make us effective. Even if a month is short we will be able to do certain experiments. And some will be failures. Others successes. It’s like chemistry.”
The staff still has a few hours before presenting its first mixture and the mystery surrounding its composition remains more than ever. “Places are expensive”summarizes Isaïa Cordinier.
