Fall's confidence grows in France's World Cup Qualifiers campaign

PARIS (FIBA Basketball World  Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Moustapha Fall says the World Cup Qualifiers have given him the stage to prove he can compete with the best players in Europe.

The 2.18m (7ft 2in) center, in France's toughest game of the First Round, a July 2 clash in Krasnodar with Russia, had 11 points, 5 rebounds and a couple of blocks. Fall had a highlight reel jam, and swat.

Les Bleus won 84-78 for their sixth consecutive victory and moved closer to qualification for next year's 32-team World Cup in China.

"For me, these windows were a great opportunity," Fall said to FIBA.basketball. "First of all, it’s great to be in the national team. It really is a different experience.

"I’d never played in the national teams before. I had no experience of international basketball. I discovered new systems, new players, so it’s pretty cool. On an individual level for my career, it was a good experience. It brought a lot of attention to me. It was 100% positive."

The 26-year-old Fall averaged 8.8ppg, 4rpg and 1.8bpg in the First Round. He was one of many players to raise his profile in the European Qualifiers.

“On an individual level for my career, it was a good experience. It brought a lot of attention to me. It was 100 percent positive.”- Moustapha Fall

In the win over Russia, Fall went up against NBA center Timofey Mozgov. He says his confidence has grown. 

"Yes, that was my personal goal in these windows," he said , "to show that I can play with and against the best.

"In the first two windows, all the best players were not here so it was difficult to draw conclusions, even if they were high stakes games. But after the third window, especially after the game against Russia, I can say this is a reference performance for me."

Fall was at his best for France in the third window at Russia

France's tower of power made 4 of his 5 (80 percent) shots from the floor but did struggle at the free-throw line, sinking only 3 of his 6 attempts. Profligacy at the charity stripe was his biggest problem in the First Round.

He made a woeful 9 of 24 (37.5 percent) attempts, which suggests opposing coaches will be only too happy in future games to see their players put Fall on the line instead of letting him him make easy shots.

His game overall, France coach Vincent Collet will be thinking, has been very good. Fall made 22 of his 29 (75.9 percent) attempts from inside the arc in six Qualifiers games and he even had 9 assists with just 5 turnovers.

“It helped me a lot. I had never played for Vincent Collet before, I was not familiar with his system. And in the national team you have to get things really quickly.”- Moustapha Fall

 He's just glad he had the chance to experience the challenges that come with playing national team basketball.

"Honestly yes," he said. "It helped me a lot. I had never played for Vincent Collet before, I was not familiar with his system.

"And in the national team you have to get things really quickly. In the beginning, on the court, I was thinking more than I was really playing. During the second window, it was already much better. And in the third, I was really comfortable."

Fall will be hoping to build on the experience. The French in the Second Round will take on Bulgaria, Finland and the Czech Republic. Their first game in the fourth window will be at the Bulgarians on September 13 and then on September 16, France will be at home against Finland. Will France have their low-post weapon?

"If the team wants me and if I can play, I will go without a doubt," Fall said.

FIBA