Les Bleues can thank the International Federation (FIBA) for having established a very special formula for accession to the World Cup, from September 22 to October 1 in Australia.

With three tickets available in a group of four, the French have avoided a big disaster that hung in their face in view of their calamitous performances in Serbia.

After a flameless success against Mali (77-66), the 40th nation in the world, they followed up with two defeats against Nigeria (67-65) then the Chinese, results that are damn messy for Olympic bronze medalists.

Jean-Aimé Toupane, the new coach appointed last October, therefore has his work cut out between now and the final phase to solidify a team that has taken on water from all sides during the four days of competition.

The main project concerns the defensive sector which has lost all its bearings in a few months.

Admittedly, France attacked this tournament without three of its executives (Sandrine Gruda, Endy Miyem, Sarah Michel) but above all it seems not to have yet assimilated the requirements of its boss, freshly appointed in place of Valérie Garnier.

Like Mali and Nigeria, China, also qualified before the match, was delighted by the lack of aggressiveness of the Blues.

True to its current policy, Toupane wanted to offer playing time to a few usual substitutes, without having more satisfactory answers than the previous days.

"Shame"

In an ocean of clumsiness and mediocrity (22 ball losses) and within a sinking formation, only Marine Johannes came out of it with her head held high thanks to her vista (16 points, 5 assists).

What leave a feeling of “shame” to Gabby Williams.

"China is a really organized team, she added. We are looking for answers but we don't have them. I'm not proud of what I did tonight (14 points, 8 rebounds but 5 balls lost, editor's note). We didn't really deserve to qualify. We have to do better. We crack under the pressure. If we want to be medalists, we will have to do much better."

“The Chinese know each other perfectly, not us and on arrival, it makes a big difference, explained the interior Alexia Chartereau. We lacked intensity, we did not make them doubt. It was complicated from the start at the end. We now have to find the weapons to change all that. We already have the chance to go to the World Cup. There, we will return to the club and we will be able to work to show something else at the World Cup.

For Jean-Aimé Toupane, "the only positive point to remember is the qualification".

"We still have a lot of things to put in place but I remain convinced that we will move forward," he said, however, in an attempt to end this sad stay in Serbia on a somewhat optimistic note.

© 2022 AFP