By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Before hosting the 2024 Olympic Games, specifically the basketball tournament, the senior national team of France navigates the Qualifiers of the 2025 EuroBasket, guided by Vincent Collet.
The first step to tipping off action in the six-game round-robin double-legged format of Group E was calling up players for the games against Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in February.
Andrew Albicy, Isaia Cordinier, Sylvain Francisco, Nadir Hifi, Jaylen Hoard, Damien Inglis, Paul Lacombe, Mathias Lessort, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Vincent Poirier, Zaccharie Risacher, Matthew Strazel, and Guerschon Yabusele shape the list revealed by the French Federation of Basketball on Friday. Also, Melvin Ajinca and Neal Sako were invited to help in team practices.
In contrast to recent years, the list includes Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regulars. Upon an agreement between FIBA and Euroleague Basketball, avoiding overlapping fixtures allows the players to combine club and international duties during the winter schedule.
Les Bleus will meet in Brest on Monday, February 19. Staying in the port city, they will host Croatia on February 23. The Gameday 2 contest opposite Bosnia-Herzegovina follows in Tuzla on February 26. The next international window is scheduled for November, early in the club schedule for the 2024-25 season and a few months after the Olympics.
The fourth team of the group is Cyprus, among the hosts of the next installment of EuroBasket. The attached automatic berth leaves the three remaining countries, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and France, battling for two tickets to the final stage of the tournament.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL