31/05/2006
News
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FRA - Captaincy still unresolved - Bergeaud
PARIS (FIBA World Championship) - France coach Claude Bergeaud is unsure which player will serve as captain of the national team at the FIBA World Championship in Japan.
Bergeaud, who unveiled in Paris his provisional 12-man squad for the World Championship in Japan from August 19 to September 3, a group which included NBA superstar Tony Parker, said: "We have no certainties at the moment.
"Some players don't want the captaincy and some others just don't have the charisma to cope with such a role.
"For now, this is definitely a question that remains without an answer."
The position is vacant after Antoine Rigaudeau, 34, decided to retire from the game after helping France capture a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade.
As far as the squad was concerned, there was no place for the Seattle SuperSonics' 20-year-old rookie Johan Petro, a 7ft center who averaged 5.2 points and 4.4 rebounds this season.
"We are going to wait and see with the players we already have in the `A' team during the various training sessions and tours that will lead up to the championship," he added.
"Then we will compare. We know Johan very well and we also know that he already has an international experience. We will see what happens."
In addition to Parker is Boris Diaw, who made the EuroBasket 2005 All-Tournament team.
Diaw has been sensational this season with the Phoenix Suns, who are currently tied with Dallas at 2-2 in the Western Conference finals of the NBA.
The Pietrus brothers - Mickael and Florent - Real Madrid's Mickael Gelabale, power forward/center Cyril Julian and big center Frederic Weis are also in the group.
All of the players were vital last summer in Serbia & Montenegro.
Laurent Foirest, who was injured and could not play last year, is among the other players named.
There was no place for his Pau-Orthez team-mate, Frederic Fauthoux.
Strasbourg's Aymeric Jeanneau is included and could play an important role as the second point guard behind Parker.
"Aymeric is emotionally stable and knows how to instil energy to the rest of the team," Bergeaud added.
"He is capable of helping people bond between each other and in that sense he can replace Fred Fauthoux."
"I want to repeat something important," Bergeaud said to the assembled journalists.
"The teams who have success are the teams where collective spirit prevails - always."
Bergeaud will complete the list with four or five extra players from the `A' Team during their preparations, which begin in Paris on July 9.
The French side will travel to Divonne Les Bains on July 10 for a nine-day training session which will also involve a clash with Switzerland on July 17.
France will feature in tournaments in Strasbourg, Athens, Berlin and Nanjing (China) ahead of the FIBA World Championship.
France provisional squad for FIBA World Championship:
Mamoutou Diarra (Elan Chalon), Boris Diaw (Phoenix Suns), Laurent Foirest (Pau-Orthez), Mickael Gelabale (Real Madrid), Joseph Gomis (Forum Valladolid), Aymeric Jeanneau (Strasbourg), Cyril Julian (SLUC Nancy), Vincent Masingue (ASVEL), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs), Florent Pietrus (Unicaja Malaga), Mickael Pietrus (Golden State Warriors), Frederic Weis (Lagun Aro Bilbao).
From Isabelle Rondeau, PA Sport, Paris Exclusively for FIBA
Bergeaud, who unveiled in Paris his provisional 12-man squad for the World Championship in Japan from August 19 to September 3, a group which included NBA superstar Tony Parker, said: "We have no certainties at the moment.
"Some players don't want the captaincy and some others just don't have the charisma to cope with such a role.
"For now, this is definitely a question that remains without an answer."
The position is vacant after Antoine Rigaudeau, 34, decided to retire from the game after helping France capture a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade.
As far as the squad was concerned, there was no place for the Seattle SuperSonics' 20-year-old rookie Johan Petro, a 7ft center who averaged 5.2 points and 4.4 rebounds this season.
"We are going to wait and see with the players we already have in the `A' team during the various training sessions and tours that will lead up to the championship," he added.
"Then we will compare. We know Johan very well and we also know that he already has an international experience. We will see what happens."
In addition to Parker is Boris Diaw, who made the EuroBasket 2005 All-Tournament team.
Diaw has been sensational this season with the Phoenix Suns, who are currently tied with Dallas at 2-2 in the Western Conference finals of the NBA.
The Pietrus brothers - Mickael and Florent - Real Madrid's Mickael Gelabale, power forward/center Cyril Julian and big center Frederic Weis are also in the group.
All of the players were vital last summer in Serbia & Montenegro.
Laurent Foirest, who was injured and could not play last year, is among the other players named.
There was no place for his Pau-Orthez team-mate, Frederic Fauthoux.
Strasbourg's Aymeric Jeanneau is included and could play an important role as the second point guard behind Parker.
"Aymeric is emotionally stable and knows how to instil energy to the rest of the team," Bergeaud added.
"He is capable of helping people bond between each other and in that sense he can replace Fred Fauthoux."
"I want to repeat something important," Bergeaud said to the assembled journalists.
"The teams who have success are the teams where collective spirit prevails - always."
Bergeaud will complete the list with four or five extra players from the `A' Team during their preparations, which begin in Paris on July 9.
The French side will travel to Divonne Les Bains on July 10 for a nine-day training session which will also involve a clash with Switzerland on July 17.
France will feature in tournaments in Strasbourg, Athens, Berlin and Nanjing (China) ahead of the FIBA World Championship.
France provisional squad for FIBA World Championship:
Mamoutou Diarra (Elan Chalon), Boris Diaw (Phoenix Suns), Laurent Foirest (Pau-Orthez), Mickael Gelabale (Real Madrid), Joseph Gomis (Forum Valladolid), Aymeric Jeanneau (Strasbourg), Cyril Julian (SLUC Nancy), Vincent Masingue (ASVEL), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs), Florent Pietrus (Unicaja Malaga), Mickael Pietrus (Golden State Warriors), Frederic Weis (Lagun Aro Bilbao).
From Isabelle Rondeau, PA Sport, Paris Exclusively for FIBA
