FIBA Basketball
FRA - France in upbeat mood
DIVONNE-LES-BAINS (FIBA World Championship) - France will kick-start their FIBA World Championship preparation for good on Monday evening when they face Switzerland in their first friendly in Divonne-les-Bains. France, who have never lost to the Swiss in 27 encounters, will play a total of 12 friendlies before the prestigious 24-team tournament, which tips off in Japan on August 19. The team started their preparations in Divonne last week
::WIN a trip to the FIBA World Championship Finals weekend ::
DIVONNE-LES-BAINS (FIBA World Championship) - France will kick-start their FIBA World Championship preparation for good on Monday evening when they face Switzerland in their first friendly in Divonne-les-Bains.
France, who have never lost to the Swiss in 27 encounters, will play a total of 12 friendlies before the prestigious 24-team tournament, which tips off in Japan on August 19. The team started their preparations in Divonne last week without point guard Tony Parker and guard/forward Mickael Gelabale, who was in Seattle to seal his contract with the SuperSonics. Both players have now joined the rest of the team and the Parker is eager to start the competition.
"This is the first time I've finished a season with no injury," said the San Antonio Spurs superstar in L'Equipe. "I feel perfectly fine to play with the French team and I hope to reach top form in two weeks time for the Berlin tournament (from August 3 to 5). Against Switzerland, I will play my best as if we were facing the Argentinians or the Greeks. I have not played for two months and I will be very motivated."
For coach Claude Bergeaud, the clash will be an opportunity to start drawing up the final 12-man squad he will take to Japan. Out of the 17 currently in the team, Parker, Boris Diaw, Gelabale, Cyril Julian, Mickael and Florent Pietrus, Laurent Foirest and Frederic Weis, have all but secured their ticket to the land of the rising sun.
Foirest is a long-time member of the national side but was injured and unable to play for Les Bleus last year at the EuroBasket where they won the bronze medal.
Center Weis was a big-time player for France at the EuroBasket and Bergeaud is expecting him to make vital contributions this time.
"I have never seen him play so well," said coach Bergeaud. He is exceptional and is leading the younger ones."
Centers Johan Petro, Ronny Turiaf and Vincent Masingue are all fighting for a place in the side.
"This is very open," said Bergeaud. "I am very impressed by the form and the motivation of the guys."
Bergeaud will reduce his squad to 14 men after the Strasbourg tournament, which is being played July 21-23.
PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA
DIVONNE-LES-BAINS (FIBA World Championship) - France will kick-start their FIBA World Championship preparation for good on Monday evening when they face Switzerland in their first friendly in Divonne-les-Bains.
France, who have never lost to the Swiss in 27 encounters, will play a total of 12 friendlies before the prestigious 24-team tournament, which tips off in Japan on August 19. The team started their preparations in Divonne last week without point guard Tony Parker and guard/forward Mickael Gelabale, who was in Seattle to seal his contract with the SuperSonics. Both players have now joined the rest of the team and the Parker is eager to start the competition.
"This is the first time I've finished a season with no injury," said the San Antonio Spurs superstar in L'Equipe. "I feel perfectly fine to play with the French team and I hope to reach top form in two weeks time for the Berlin tournament (from August 3 to 5). Against Switzerland, I will play my best as if we were facing the Argentinians or the Greeks. I have not played for two months and I will be very motivated."
For coach Claude Bergeaud, the clash will be an opportunity to start drawing up the final 12-man squad he will take to Japan. Out of the 17 currently in the team, Parker, Boris Diaw, Gelabale, Cyril Julian, Mickael and Florent Pietrus, Laurent Foirest and Frederic Weis, have all but secured their ticket to the land of the rising sun.
Foirest is a long-time member of the national side but was injured and unable to play for Les Bleus last year at the EuroBasket where they won the bronze medal.
Center Weis was a big-time player for France at the EuroBasket and Bergeaud is expecting him to make vital contributions this time.
"I have never seen him play so well," said coach Bergeaud. He is exceptional and is leading the younger ones."
Centers Johan Petro, Ronny Turiaf and Vincent Masingue are all fighting for a place in the side.
"This is very open," said Bergeaud. "I am very impressed by the form and the motivation of the guys."
Bergeaud will reduce his squad to 14 men after the Strasbourg tournament, which is being played July 21-23.
PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA