VALENCIA (FIBA Basketball World Cup/EuroBasket 2015) - It might seem odd or surprising, but there were basketball fans in Spain on Tuesday night asking Florent Pietrus to sign copies of his book that was released last summer.

The book entitled 'Je n'ai jamais été petit' ('I've never been small') was released in July of 2014, one month before Pietrus helped France upset hosts Spain in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Romain Schue collaborated with Pietrus on the work that looks backs on his life.

His teammates loved him.

Even before the opening tip on Tuesday, Valencia lowered the lights in La Fonteta during the player introductions and gave the Frenchman an emotional and heartfelt welcome.

The national team, Pietrus told FIBA.com on Tuesday night, has been a meaningful part of career.

"I think it's very important because you are playing for your country," he said.

"I have won championships with my teams before but when you play for you country, you are playing for 60 million people and for me, that's a great feeling. 

"As soon as you step onto the court, you see everyone waiting for this team. 

"For me, it's always been a pleasure to be a part of this team and this year we have a big step to take."

Les Bleus were once a team loaded with very talented players, including NBA stars, who couldn't get over the hump and win major events.

They endured a late collapse against Greece in the Semi-Finals of EuroBasket 2005, failed to reach the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, lost to Spain in the Quarter-Finals of EuroBasket 2009 and the Final of EuroBasket 2011, and in the Last Eight of the London Olympics.

But a Semi-Final triumph over Spain, one that did not have Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro or Serge Ibaka, at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia changed everything.

France went on to beat Lithuania in the Final and last year,  they travelled to Spain for the World Cup and stunned the tournament hosts in that famous Quarter-Final in Madrid.

They did so without NBA players Tony Parker, Alexis Ajinca, Nando De Colo and Kevin Seraphin.

France fell in their next game to Serbia but rebounded with a victory over Lithuania in the Third-Place Game to reach the podium.

The win over Spain is what most people will remember from their World Cup campaign. The Spaniards were at full strength with both Pau and Marc Gasol, Ibaka, Navarro, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, Ricky Rubio and more.

I think we have more respect from the opponent now. - Pietrus 

The player with boundless energy and combative skills on the boards - who turns 34 on 19 January - will be important when France host Group A and take on Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Russia and Israel in the Group Phase.

"I know it's going to be difficult (at the EuroBasket) because all last year we were outsiders but now, we're going to be the favorites of the championship because we’ll be playing at home," Pietrus said. 

"We're going to have to keep our head on and try to win because it's going to be difficult."

Pietrus admits that he hasn't thought too much about the EuroBasket, yet, because he is still savoring the wonderful memory of beating Spain in Madrid.

"That was a great feeling," Pietrus said. "We did a pretty good championship, especially the game against Spain. 

"I think it was a big step and nobody expected that. 

I think we have a good chance this summer to win the gold. - Pietrus

"We grew up maybe the last five years because every time we had played against Spain, we got beat by 20 and these last few years, we played better, smarter and maybe got more experience. 

"And it was a great feeling, especially to beat them at home. I know they will be back this year and that we'll have to take care of business at home and try to win back-to-back championships."

The man with the toughest job this summer will be Collet because every French player will be champing at the bit to be a part of the national team since France are the host nation.

Parker will undoubtedly return to the set-up but it remains to be seen how much change takes place with regards to last year's squad. 

"We saw last summer that we didn't need the best players to win," Pietrus said. 

"Now, everyone is going to try and come back because we're going to play at home. 

"The coach has tough decisions... he saw that we don't need the best players to win."

FIBA