FRA - France hope Parker returns for Finland game

PARIS (EuroBasket 2009) - Superstar guard Tony Parker is expected back for France's game against Finland in the EuroBasket Additional Qualifying Round on Saturday in Pau.

France coach Vincent Collet told reporters at Charles de Gaulle Airport on Monday that Parker should return from the United States in the next few days.

"I think he will play (against Finland)," Collet said before flying to Sardinia for the opening AQR game against Italy on Wednesday. "How long is another matter."

Collet said he spoke to the San Antonio Spurs playmaker over the weekend.

Parker is in Texas receiving treatment on a mild ankle sprain that has robbed the French of their most important player for the game against the Italians.

Nando De Colo is expected to replace Parker in the starting line-up.

France, Italy and Finland are in Group B of the Additional Qualifying Round. The winner of the pool will face the Group A winners (Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Belgium) for the right to play at next month’s EuroBasket in Poland - a qualifying tournament for the 2010 FIBA World Championship

Collet has named a final group of 12 players for Wednesday's game in Cagliari.

France squad: Antoine Diot, Nicolas Batum, Aymeric Jeanneau, Alain Koffi, Johan Petro, Edwin Jackson, Yannick Bokolo, Florent Pietrus, Nando De Colo, Boris Diaw, Ronny Turiaf and Ali Traore.


FIBA