MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Following their 88-64 defeat at the hands of Spain in the Group Phase, European champions France would like another shot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup hosts.

To give themselves a chance of making it happen, les Bleus know they will first have to play tough defense against Croatia's wide array of weapons in their Round of 16 match-up on Saturday night.

"If we win (against Croatia), then there's a 99 percent chance to meet Spain again. But we want to do it. The goal is to go as far as we can go. We know we will have a chance against Croatia," said French coach Vincent Collet, who doesn't have high expectations of a Senegal upset of Spain

But Collet knows defense will be the name of the game against Croatia.

"Like very often with the French team, we must elevate our defensive levels. We did it against Brazil (a 65-63 loss) and Serbia (a 74-73 win). These two times we were in the game thanks to the defense. We know it will be the key against Croatia."

France captain Boris Diaw agreed that the team needs to come together at the defensive end to get past Croatia and reach the Quarter-Finals.

"Defense is definitely one of the key aspects of our team. That's what we have to build our victory on. It starts with defense and then the fast-break and then sharing the ball," he said.

"But defense is the biggest thing. We have to be smart with the defensive game plan."

We need to make stops and we have a team individually capable of doing that. - Diaw

Another key for France would be point guard Thomas Heurtel taking the next step. The 25-year-old leads the team in assists (4.2 per game) while also averaging 7.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals. But he still lacks the experience to be the difference-maker late in games - often because he tries to take too much responsibility upon himself.

"He's doing okay. He's very talented. He's just inexperienced. Sometimes he's doing a little bit too much. He needs to involve his teammates. He wants to do a lot of things by himself, and at this level sometimes he should be more for the team," said Collet.

While he played in the Euroleague last season with Laboral Kuxta Vitoria, Heurtel averaged 1.0 points and 0.9 assists in under 8 minutes of play at EuroBasket 2013.

"That was the big question when Tony (Parker) said he wasn't going to play this summer. Who would play the point? We have guys, we have players and Thomas is one of them," said Diaw.

"He (Heurtel)'s been doing great. He's a great leader, helping us shooting the ball and passing the ball."

We use Thomas a lot. He's great in the pick-and-rolls. - Diaw

But the San Antonio Spurs forward said Heurtel needs to learn that what works in club ball might not work at the World Cup.

"Vitoria is a big level in the Euroleague, but it's a higher level here. The timing is a little bit different. Sometimes you see him trying some passes that work in the Euroleague but don't work here because you have Serge Ibaka coming from the weak side stealing the ball. There is some adjustment to be made and I think he’s making them."

Hopefully he is close to having them down in time for the Croatia game.

FIBA