“They gave us a hard time,” said Frédéric Fauthoux, the new coach of the Blues, after the victory in Cyprus

Frédéric Fauthoux, coach of the French team, after the 75-59 victory in Cyprus: “It’s a good victory. An international match is never easy. It's a new team, which has only had four practices to prepare. Cyprus played a good match, and it was important to take it. Was it harder than expected? I don't know, honestly, because it's a first. We try to create several scenarios in our heads, to prepare for everything. What is certain is that they gave us a hard time, that they scored important, difficult baskets. But overall we are good.

There may have been a little apprehension on the part of some, perhaps myself. This was seen at the start, in the lack of fluidity in our game. But it remains a first, a victory, and it is beautiful all the same, even more so in the united state of mind that we displayed in the fight. The rest will come later. Yoan Makoundou played an essential role at the end of the match and in his defensive work on Willis, who opened up a lot of space for his teammates.