NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – It is my biggest frustration in the women’s game that France never set my pulse racing as they could, and probably should.

Let’s get this straight from the outset though, to avoid any doubt. I absolutely admire the amount of resources, commitment, respect and dedication that the French Basketball Federation puts into the women’s game at all levels – not least through their INSEP programme for young girls.

I also can’t criticize too harshly the fact that France have consistently been challengers at senior and youth level competitions for a very long time. But for me at least, there is just something missing that only allows them to be very good, but not special.

Currently in Udine at the FIBA U18 European Championship Women, I was struck by the passion, verve and energy of an Italy side that without its main stars and with a potential relegation cloud hanging over them, took down the reigning champions and favorites, Belgium – despite having trailed by 19 points.

I mention this because in order to explain why I have a frustration with French women’s basketball, I need to use a car analogy. One that will particularly ring true with any of you who have ever viewed the global car smash TV show Top Gear.

France national teams are highly efficient and quality machines. They do things with certainty and they do have quality in a lot of areas. They also look the part from a coaching standpoint and every time you see a French team warming up, you are in awe at the physical aspects. French players have all the athletic qualities – of that there is no doubt.

If French women’s basketball were a car, they would be something like a higher-end Volkswagen. Not quite the best or most exciting car around, but well respected and with many qualities. They would have all the latest technology in the cockpit – to translate things such as the coaches flicking through their i-pads during timeouts at U20 Women in Sopron.

However, French women’s basketball are so far away from the excitement of a Ferrari right now. They don’t really have the capacity to set your pulse racing, to have enough flair to make you sit up and say ‘Wow’ on a regular basis. That’s a real pity to me.

In essence, they have become predictably, far too rigid and dare I say – a little bit boring. I could be completely wrong, but they seem to be entrenched in an ethos where it is about coaching by numbers, running their sets and therefore incapable of releasing the shackles and putting a foot fully down on the accelerator.

This is not a criticism of any individual coaches. It seems to be that this is just the French way and if that is the agreed technical standpoint, then fair enough.

But focusing so strongly on defense and running through offensive sets monotonously and robotically whatever the circumstance, is arguably not allowing France to fulfil their potential. They never seem capable of doing something ‘devilish’ and pressing the ‘Sport Mode’ button on their car. Instead they drive strictly to the speed limit – obeying every rule of the ‘Highway Code’.

The players are in danger of becoming robots themselves. You can see this from the fact that when someone shows even the slightest bit of extra flair such as Marine Johannes, Olivia Epoupa or most recently some of the U17 team, it stands out so much.

More and more, people at events are raising their eyebrows when I mention France. They shrug their shoulders because they know what is coming 9 times out of 10. They know whether it is a big game or a clash with a much poorer team, the gear and performance will be the same.

Ironically, France could yet win here in Udine. I would not  back against them. But will they do it in style? No. I appreciate that for any Federation, everything is connected to funding, getting consistent results and on this basis, being in the safety of a quality Volkswagen might suit them. 

I just really hope that one day, the France national teams can soak up some of that Ferrari spirit. Perhaps accept they might need to suffer a few small accidents and damage, because they were living more dangerously and allowing their coaches and players to express themselves more freely and take some risks.

I say this because with the athletes they produce and all of their many upsides, I think that with some imagination, a change to their current risk appetite and belief, they really could be amazing to watch.

Finally, perhaps they should forget about the free-spirit Ferrari idea altogether.  Maybe they have all the tools to become more of a Bugatti. I would certainly love to see them use all that power they have, so we can stop snoozing and sit up with our eyes wide open in absolute awe.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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