The Blues defy Argentina in the semifinal Friday at 14 hours. After the real feat in the quarterfinals against the United States, Vincent Collet's men will try to continue their momentum in these world basketball championships in China. Above all, they will want to erase for good the mistake of the 2014 World Cup, when after eliminating Spain, arch-favorite, they finally fell against Serbia.
"It's still a quarter-final, it's a mistake we made five years ago, you have to learn from what happened in 2014," Nicolas Batum told Europe 1. Since Wednesday night, the captain keeps repeating the same to his teammates: "We did not do anything and we will not start thinking we have arrived because we beat the Americans."
"It will be a big basketball game"
For him, as for Evan Fournier, the 2014 World Cup remains an injury. That year, the Blues leave Spain at home, in the quarterfinals. Euphoric, they are yet picked by Serbia in half the day after tomorrow. It will be necessary that the Blues come down from their little cloud to better tackle their match against Argentina. "Argentina are the opposite of American players, they have no basketball player in the NBA, it's going to be a totally different match, against a team that plays with a lot of heart and is fighting for 40 minutes. basketball match, "explains Nicolas Batum.
This semi-final is also the occasion of reunion between French and Argentines. A month ago, the Blues had swept the Argentinian preparation match, with a gap of 19 points. The French know it: everyone gives them winners. The pressure is therefore all the stronger.