A few minutes after the draw for the group stage of the World Cup 2023 (August 25 – September 10), the coach Vincent Collet reacted at a press conference to the composition of the hen of the France for the first round of this competition: Canada, Latvia and Lebanon.
” We were afraid to be with Canada from the start “, he admits thus, concerning this group H. “ There is a real imbalance in several groups. We would have preferred to be with the Philippines, but we inherited a difficult first round and a perilous crossing with Spain and Brazil. You will have to be ready from the start and be vigilant against everyone, there are rarely easy matches. »
As Vincent Collet suggests here, if they finish in the first two places in their pool, the Blues will have to face the two best teams in group G in the second round (Spain, Brazil, Iran or Ivory Coast) to then hope to see the quarter-finals.
As saying that ” the path will be complicated » and that there will be « no ignition delay license for the French team even if, as the coach reminds us, ” you have to beat the best to get to the medals. This will once again be the goal of the Olympic vice-champions and European vice-champions, also bronze medalists at the last World Cup.
Uncertainty Rudy Gobert
It is still necessary to be able to benefit from a full workforce, while Rudy Gobert said in the week that he was unsure about making the trip to Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines…
” I haven’t spoken to Rudy since, but I knew it, Boris [Diaw] saw him recently and he told her about it “says Vincent Collet. ” We’ll let him sit down and think. But let him not say that [s’il ne vient pas] it is to better prepare for the following season. We do not systematically see players play better when they are not in selection [l’été précédent]. In 2014 he was with us [au Mondial] and he played well behind, it launched his NBA career. »
With the announced returns of Nicolas Batum and Nando De Colo in selection, France obviously wants to rely on its best elements one year from the Paris Olympics. In this sense, the presence of Rudy Gobert sounds like a necessity in order to lay the foundations for 2024 this year.
” He is an important player in the team and his presence is not insignificant. We can replace him, but we can’t replace his leadership, so we really wish he could come “, admits Vincent Collet. ” I hope he will be there, he knows he is one of our leaders. We need him and he also needs the French team to be able to have the best possible season behind. He has time ahead of him to rest, take care of himself and be with us on July 28th. »
Without Joel Embiid, but with Victor Wembanyama?
If he considers that the World Cup is a launching pad for the Olympics “, the tricolor coach remains aware of the fact that Rudy Gobert may not be the only tricolor to be missed this summer.
Indeed, Vincent Collet is already expecting not to see Joel Embiid participate in the next Asian World Cup, regardless of the country he chooses sportingly.
” It will be difficult to see him with us this summer, but that does not question the fact that he can play with us. [en 2024]. For what ? Because he is going to get married and it falls in the wrong period, during the preparation, so it makes it difficult for him to be there, whatever country he chooses. »
” Always hesitant in his thinking Still in the words of Vincent Collet, Joel Embiid therefore risks having to wait for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to start in the blue jersey and, this, if he obviously decides to represent France rather than the United States.
As for Victor Wembanyamathe other French flagship interior, it would seem for the moment that his participation in the World Cup is not compromised, even if it will first be necessary to wait to see where he will land in the Draft.
” It depends on who you are, your status [une participation à une compétition internationale]. It requires collaboration with all parties but, for now, Victor is very motivated. The news we get is pretty good “, assures Vincent Collet.
