Mickael Pietrus and Tony Parker

Nothing but a podium!
Without Tony Parker and despite poor offensive execution, France finished fifth overall in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, third-best among European teams. This served as confirmation for a team which won a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade. This time around, France will want to climb one or two steps higher on the podium. But the most "NBA look-alike" European team will need to find consistency on offense in order to remain among the best.

Biggest EuroBasket Success

46 years is an eternity. That’s how long France had to wait between its two latest medals in a EuroBasket. When Tony Parker and his teammates destroyed Spain, 98-68, in the 2005 EuroBasket bronze medal game, it was a small step for man but a giant leap for French basketball. It erased years of frustration and unfulfilled promises. To reach the podium, France eliminated title- favourite Serbia on its own floor and held defending European champion Lithuania to 47 points in the quarterfinals. The bronze-medal victory was all the more impressive considering the way in which France lost in the semis. The French squandered a seven-point lead with 50 seconds remaining as Greece’s Dimitrios Diamantidis’ game-winning three ended France’s dream of a gold medal. But the convincing win over Spain allowed France to leave Belgrade on a positive note.

Biggest EuroBasket Disaster

The EuroBasket 2003 bronze medal game against Italy will always be remembered as a day of infamy for French basketball fans. After reaching the semi-finals undefeated, France lost a 74-70 heart-breaker to future champion Lithuania. All it had to do was re-group against a tired and injury riddled Italian squad in the bronze medal game to capture the first medal in a European Championship since 1959 and secure a berth to the Athens Olympic Games. Besides, France had humiliated Italy by 33 points in the first round. After a miserable and emotionless performance in the third-place game, the national team sent French basketball into turmoil. Coach Alain Weisz was quickly replaced by Claude Bergeaud and numerous questions were raised about the way players were selected. From then on, a special emphasis was put on attitude rather than pure talent.

Best Individual Performance/Best Player of All-Time

Le Roi. The King. A nickname he earned while playing for Virtus Bologna in Italy. This legendary club is where Antoine Rigaudeau became one of the most respected players in Europe. To many, he is the best French player of all time, although Tony Parker will probably take over this unofficial title once his career is over. Rigaudeau, just like Parker, was a young phenom and a league MVP at the tender age of 19. From Cholet to Pau-Orthez to Virtus Bologna to Pamesa Valencia, with a short stop with the Dallas Mavericks, the 200-cm point guard seduced everyone thanks to his sweet shooting stroke and professionalism.

With the French national team his success was not as obvious, but in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, France made their way to the final where they tested the US team. With a silver medal around his neck, Rigaudeau chose to retire from the national team but five years later, he came back for EuroBasket 2005. Once again his locker room influence was huge and resulted in a bronze medal.

Scouting Report

With seven players in the NBA, the American influence on French basketball is obvious. No team in Europe can compete with the French in terms of athleticism. "Our defense will be our trademark," announced Claude Bergeaud. During the World Championship, France was, and had to be, the best defensive team in the tournament as their offensive execution was particularly poor. This, however, was partly caused by the injury Parker suffered just a couple of days before the opening of the World Championship, as the offense usually runs and finishes through the NBA All-Star. So this could change in Spain, with the Spurs' point guard back in the lineup. Without him, France was unable to get out in transition, which is a key to their success. When Les Bleus are able to play a transition game, they can be deadly but when opposing teams force them to play in the half-court, their lack of shooters can cost them dearly.

With Antoine Rigaudeau now retired, Claude Bergeaud has yet to find a reliable threat outside the three-point line. Parker, Diaw or Pietrus can slash to the basket or break-down an opponent off the dribble like nobody else, but when it comes to knocking down the long bomb, consistency is not a strength. Michel Morandais, from Napoli, could be a solution but the ability of the French to use their speed and athleticism remains the main concern.

Likely Squad

After missing the World Championship because of a broken index finger, Tony Parker will be France’s undisputed leader. At 24, the San Antonio Spurs’ point guard has already won two NBA championship rings and has been selected twice to the All-Star Game. His best friend, Boris Diaw from the Phoenix Suns, is the glue that will keep this team together. Diaw, with his ability to play every position on the court, is a dream player for every coach and his versatility is a problem for every opponent. Claude Bergeaud gladly takes advantage of this.

Few players have a guaranteed spot on the national team. Two of them come from the Spanish Championship. At 2.18 m, Frederic Weis is the tallest player in the history of French basketball. After four years away from Les Bleus, the former New York Knicks first-round draft pick revived his career with Bilbao, enjoyed a brilliant campaign in the summer of 2005 in Belgrade and confirmed his good form at the World Championship. Despite his limited offensive skills, Weis is a valuable rebounder and intimidating defensive presence. Defense is also the trademark of high flying power forward Florent Pietrus from Unicaja Malaga one of Bergeaud’s favourite player thanks to his intensity and energy.

In a press conference in February, the coach announced that he might leave some NBA players at home. That should not be the case for guards Mickaël Gelabale, in his rookie season with the Seattle Sonics, and Ronny Turiaf of the Los Angeles Lakers. But Johan Petro (Sonics), Yakhouba Diawara (Nuggets) and even Mickaël Pietrus (Warriors), who played poorly in last summer's World Championship, will have to fight for a spot on the roster.

The buzz in French basketball the past 12 months has come from the spectacular play of center Joakim Noah. The son of former tennis star, Yannick, Joakim was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2006 NCAA Final Four after leading Florida to the title. Expected to be among the first players picked in the draft, Noah still needs to file paperwork to obtain his French passport and despite the fact that he indicated he’d love to play for France, his presence in Spain is highly hypothetical.

Prediction

In Spain, with Tony Parker expected back into the lineup, France will be among the favourites for a medal. With a core group of players that dominated Europe in the U18 category (Parker, Diaw, Turiaf, Diawara and Mike Pietrus were on the same squad that won in Zadar in 2000), Les Bleus are hungry for success. Anything less than a medal would be a disappointment.

Last 10 FIBA Events

2006 - World Championship Saitama, 5th
2005 - EuroBasket Belgrade, Bronze Medal
2004 - Olympics Athens, Did not qualify
2003 - EuroBasket Stockholm, 4th
2002 - World Championship Indianapolis, Did not qualify
2001 - EuroBasket Istanbul, 6th
2000 - Olympics Sydney, Silver Medal
1999 - EuroBasket Paris, 4th
1998 - World Championship Athens, Did not qualify
1997 - EuroBasket Barcelona, 10th