Vincent Collet, coach of the French crew, on the expanded checklist for the Olympics: “It is unbelievable feelings to have the ability to compete on this Olympic event. I spoke of alternative, of privilege. Clearly, that is the competitors of a profession. Even if I had the pleasure of competing in lots of others earlier than, this goes even additional. Already, competing within the Games within the lifetime of an athlete is large. Plus at residence. The final ones in France had been in 1924. Being there, you need to chew into the apple and benefit from it. You have to beat the stress, and keep in what you wish to do to have the ability to take full benefit of the scenario and be at your finest. I hope that is what’s going to take us as excessive as attainable.
The checklist (19 names) is bigger than anticipated. We had been speaking about 16-17 names initially, however the uncertainty of issues, and the constraints – NBA gamers can’t begin sooner than 28 days earlier than the beginning of the competitors – meant that we prolonged it. This bigger checklist will permit us to work regardless. This extension was primarily finished on the skin strains, the place we’ve got 13 gamers for 7 positions, whereas there are 6 for five locations inside. There are numerous younger individuals we wish to see, even when some are having a troublesome season – Killian Hayes, Frank Ntilikina, Théo Maledon… -. The analysis is usually not straightforward as a result of the gamers play in very completely different Championships, Betclic Elite, Euroleague, NBA, G League… This can be why we wish to see individuals.
Our post-World Cup development will contain placing again in place an intractable protection. Inside, we’ve got an issue of the wealthy, with too many profitable gamers and never sufficient spots out there. Mous Fall, who’s having a wonderful season with Olympiakos however will not be there as a result of we could not add a fourth place 5, is an instance. Thomas Heurtel? He was not selectable since his signing in Russia. Of which act.
Things will go shortly. An Olympic yr will not be the identical configuration as a Euro or a World Cup. At the tip of the second pleasant match, in Cologne in opposition to Germany on July 6, we should have the ultimate crew. We may have little or no time to make the cuts. »
“We wish to return to the defensive bases which made this choice profitable”
Boris Diaw, normal supervisor of the French crew
Boris Diaw, normal supervisor of the France crew: “It’s true that there are numerous uncertainties on the exterior positions, as Vincent (Collet) mentioned, with completely different Championships and completely different makes use of. We can discuss a pseudo competitors, however in the long run, the objective is to create a crew and we should not lose sight of the truth that there are gamers we’re going to see for the primary time, and who may have their enjoying card. Everyone is there to indicate what they’ll convey. It can be as much as the coach to do his job.
Quite a lot of issues will change (in comparison with the World Cup). We know that having a contest in France provides further stress. There can be a enjoying philosophy put in place, we wish to return to the defensive bases which made the success of this choice, restore rigor within the frame of mind, have a type of humility, respect the standard of the opponents. Because on this event, maybe the hardest Olympic event in historical past, many groups can declare a medal. We wish to be a part of this group. »