EuroBasket Women - Team profile: France

PARIS (EuroBasket Women) - Reigning EuroBasket Women champions France take to the court in Poland looking to become the first team to successfully defend its title since the Soviet Union did it last back in 1991.

As important as retaining the crown of European champions may be, head coach Pierre Vincent has put more emphasis on the team doing what is needed to secure their first Olympic berth since 2000.

For all the success France have had at EuroBasket - winning in 2001 and 2009 - and the FIBA World Championship - finishing inside the top eight the past three occasions - they have failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2004 and 2008.

Now the French find themselves in a position to accomplish two great feats simultaneously: successfully defend their EuroBasket crown and thereby earn the automatic place on offer for the 2012 London Games.

That is exactly what star player Sandrine Gruda hopes to achieve as she makes her return to the national team after missing last year's FIBA World Championship in the Czech Republic.

Her absence last autumn has only made the 23-year-old that much more determined to savour her time with the national team and assert France's place as a power to be reckoned with in world basketball.

Vincent has a talented and versatile roster at his disposal, one that could be considered an improvement on the team that won in Latvia in 2009.

Veteran guard Edwige Lawson-Wade ends her four-year hiatus from the national team and her presence in the backcourt will be a huge bonus, where she can complement Celine Dumerc.

Gruda's return, combined with the continued growth of rising star Endene Miyem and the steady play of Emmeline Ndongue, makes France a hard team to match in the low post.

FIBA