By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Changes are underway in the French National Team lineup. Following Frank Ntilikina’s withdrawal, the coaching staff opted to bring Isaia Cordinier to the 2023 FIBA World Cup squad. The swingman from Virtus Bologna has accepted the call-up and is set to join the team.
He will be heading to Japan on Monday to join Vincent Collet’s side alongside Real Madrid‘s Vincent Poirier, who was called in due to the uncertainties surrounding Mathias Lessort. Nonetheless, hopes are still high for the new Panathinaikos Center to recover in time.
Cordinier has earned 19 selections with the National Team so far, all during friendly matches or FIBA Qualification windows.
À la suite du forfait de Frank Ntilikina, Vincent Collet et ses assistants ont appelé Isaïa Cordinier pour participer à la @FIBAWC.
Vincent Poirier rejoint les Bleus en attendant le rétablissement complet de Mathias Lessort. #TeamFranceBasket | #PassionnémentBleu | #FIBAWC
— Équipes de France de Basket (@FRABasketball) August 13, 2023
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve from BeBasket reported that Rodrigue Beaubois declined the call-up on Saturday, and he will continue to hold the record of being one of the best players in the history of French basketball with zero National Team selections.
As a result, a group of 14 players will journey to Japan for two friendly matches against Japan (August 17) and Australia (August 20). Lessort went to Athens on Friday to be examined by the doctors of Panathinaikos, and he will continue his rehabilitation in Paris before joining the group in Japan.
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The current roster of the French National Team includes Sylvain Francisco, Nando De Colo, Elie Okobo, Isaia Cordinier, Terry Tarpey, Yakuba Ouattara, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, Guerschon Yabusele, Mathias Lessort, Moustapha Fall, Rudy Gobert, Vincent Poirier, and Yoan Makoundou.
In the 2023 FIBA World Cup, France is placed in Group H (Indonesia) alongside Canada, Latvia, and Lebanon.
Photo: fiba.basketball