For their first of six matches, including two qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup, scheduled for August before the continental competition where they will aim for "gold", the Blues relied on the back of the Knicks (15 points), their new captain, and the pivot of the Minnesota Timberwolves, close to the double-double (12 points and 9 rebounds).

In the absence of executives Nicolas Batum and Nando De Colo who are skipping the Euro and deprived of three players through injuries, including two forfeited from the European Championship, the pivot Moustapha Fall (thigh) and the phenomenon of 18 years, Victor Wembanyama (psoas), the Blues alternated between difficult defensive sequences and quality offensive phases.

The aftermath of a week of intensive preparation in Nanterre.

Irregular until half-time (45-39), the 2013 European champions raised their defensive intensity in the third quarter by inflicting a 25-0 straddling the third and final quarter, thanks in particular to Evan Fournier, author of 13 points in 10 minutes.

In the absence of the pivot Moustapha Fall, package for the Euro due to a thigh injury, the pivot Vincent Poirier has perfectly replaced Gobert, by accumulating 11 points and 8 rebounds.

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Maledon and Okobo score points.

On the outside positions, the young Theo Maledon (21) and Elie Okobo scored points in the race to select 12 players for the Euro, finishing with 9 and 8 units respectively.

The two competing players, Thomas Heurtel (5 points) and Frank Ntilikina (2 points) were more discreet.

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Collet had opted for a starting five with Heurtel, in order to boost the game of the France team.

An opponent of another caliber awaits the Blues for the next two friendly matches.

Italy, beaten by France in the quarterfinals in Tokyo, will put them to the test on August 12 in Bologna, on August 16 in Montpellier.

France will close its series of friendly matches with the reception of Belgium on August 18.

Then will take place the two qualifying matches for the 2023 World Cup (the Czech Republic on August 24 and Bosnia and Herzegovina on August 27).

© 2022 AFP