Paris (AFP)
A little less than four weeks from the start of Euro-2021, the French basketball players launch their preparation with a double confrontation against the great Spanish rivals, in Toulouse on Sunday (5.45 p.m.) and Monday (4.00 p.m.), to be able to gauge themselves.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Endy Miyem's teammates have not played a single match since the Olympic qualifying tournament in early February 2020 in Bourges, which allowed them to secure their place at the Games, with in particular a prestigious victory over Australia.
There were indeed two friendlies scheduled for early February 2021 against Spain, but a case of Covid within the Iberian management had led to the cancellation of the trip of the Spanish selection and the two meetings that were already scheduled in Toulouse .
It is therefore "with great desire" that the French met on Monday for the start of four weeks of preparation for the European Championship (17-27 June), which will be contested for the first phase (1st round, play-offs and quarter-finals) at home at Rhénus de Strasbourg.
"The preparation matches against Spain will therefore be a good indicator to see where we are," said coach Valérie Garnier.
"I do not know if Spain remains the most important danger in Europe, but in any case it is the one with which recently we have the most difficulties to win. We must not forget that Spain can have when same fear of us ", estimated Céline Dumerc, who will don for this Euro-2021 his costume of general manager of the women's team of France.
In Toulouse, the French will also find their spectators with 800 people expected, while Euro-2021 will take place in Strasbourg with a gauge of 3,600 spectators in the second half of June.
After this double confrontation against Spain in Toulouse, the French will take the direction of Mulhouse from Friday for a new phase of preparation, with five new matches on the program (two against Italy, two against Sweden and one against Turkey).
© 2021 AFP