Tokyo (AFP)

"We are clearly aiming for the gold medal": the ambition of the French basketball team, expressed by the pivot Rudy Gobert, is clear, two years after 3rd place at the World Cup, but the margin of error will be small at the Tokyo Games.

To begin with, it is a perilous revenge that awaits the Blues from Sunday at the opening of the Olympic tournament, since they will face the United States, of which they were the executioners (89-79) in the quarterfinals of the Worlds, there is two years old in China.

"Team USA", without star or real offensive spring in 2019, is this time differently armed with in particular Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum.

Enough to forget the notable absences of LeBron James and Stephen Curry ...

"The Americans have an individual quality that remains unmatched. If we want to push them to their limits, we will have to collectively have an accuracy at all times. If it comes down to + match-ups + (one against one), we have very little luck if not to say none, "warns coach Vincent Collet.

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"As often as possible, we will have to oppose them with redundant situations, as we had done in 2019. This match, the Americans will inevitably use it, it's something that serves us. We can surprise a times, it's harder to do it twice, ”he continues.

- American concerns -

If the French know their opponents all the better than five of them (Gobert, Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, Frank Ntilikina) face them regularly in the NBA, they will quickly have to show a different face than in preparation, ended with three defeats.

Two against Spain, the reigning world champion, and one against Japan, the 31st nation in the world.

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Opposite, "Team USA" had its share of concerns.

Two reassuring victories at the expense of Argentina and Spain followed two unexpected setbacks against Nigeria and Australia, but it is especially the irruption of the Covid in the group that has done damage, since Bradley Beal had to forfeit, just like inside Kevin Love, injured right calf.

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Contact case, back Zach LaVine only joined the team in Japan on Thursday.

And if coach Gregg Popovich hopes to play him on Sunday, he will have to deal with a nine-man rotation as Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, crowned NBA champions Tuesday with Milwaukee, and Devin Booker, an unfortunate finalist, will arrive later.

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Besides the USA, certainly not 100% but in search of a fourth consecutive coronation, France will have for other opponents the surprising Czech Republic, resulting from the qualifying tournament, and Iran.

An inaugural defeat would obviously not be ideal, but neither would it be detrimental to reaching the quarter-finals, as the top two in each group and the top two thirds will qualify.

- Czech key match -

This is why Collet insisted on the crucial nature of the second meeting against the Czechs.

"We will have to be really there against them. It will be a decisive match, because even in the event of an exploit against" Team USA ", it would have to be confirmed against the Czechs. Otherwise, this exploit would not have much value. . "

And if the Blues give in against the Americans, they will indeed have to relaunch to grab a second place, which they will then have to preserve against Iran.

A possible scenario in a competition where they should then cross paths with other formidable rivals, such as Spain and Argentina, which deprived them of the final at the 2019 World Cup, Australia or even Slovenia of the prodigy Luka Doncic.

"We know that there is a lot of talent and very good teams, but I do not see why we should not aim for this gold medal. We do not go in a competition to aim for bronze or silver or for hope to have a good time, "says Rudy Gobert.

"We are a group that in a match can beat anyone. We will have to gain strength during the competition. If we do that, anything can happen," he adds.

More cautious, Collet believes that France "claims the podium".

As in 2019. But higher than in third place?

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