the reactions of the Blues after their success against the Czechs

Evan Fournier (back and captain of the Blues, after the 95-60 victory against the Czech Republic on Wednesday, in Bercy) : “We really made a terrible start, as often since the beginning of the preparation elsewhere. It’s something that really needs to be corrected on the Euro because we won’t always have the ability to come back like that. Afterwards, we had a very good second period, they only scored 18 points, we walked on them, but if we wanted to be on the top step of the podium at the Euros, we had to start better. The reasons ? Personally, I have one of my worst matches in the France team… I don’t really have an explanation. What is certain is that it must go through individual awareness, better preparation at the start, knowing that we are also targets in Europe. We are Olympic vice-champion, we are at home, it was sure that the Czechs were going to come out with a knife between their teeth. It was predictable and it’s up to us to do better.

The halftime talk? We don’t say much to each other… There is a mental switch. We say to ourselves “come on, it’s good what” and we move up a gear. In the first period, we make mistakes that we no longer make in the second, we understand better what the opponent is doing and we adapt. It is one of our strengths. At the Olympics (last year in Tokyo, editor’s note), we didn’t start our matches very well either… We often had big third quarters because we have an intelligent group, which adapts. (…) Preparations where you win all your matches, it can be a poisoned gift. It’s good that we got kicked in the face. But we have to learn from it.»

When we play together, stop the ball and push the ball, we are a very difficult team to play and to hold.

Gerschon Yabusele

Gerschon Yabusele (strong winger) : “It was hard at first. We adjusted at half-time, we came back stronger, we played together to win. But it’s the second or third time that we’ve started quite sluggish… We’re aware of it, we know that we have to quickly correct that. When we are going to fall against the big teams, it will not be so easy to come back. (…) My teammates did a good job of finding me and of course I was able to put in the energy. But what you have to remember is that when we play together, when we stop the ball and push the ball, we are a very difficult team to play and to hold. This is the only positive note. We will have to start again, correct the start of the match. (…) When we play our basketball, when we are physical, and since we have very athletic players, we manage to play our game, impose our game, we are comfortable in that and it is our strength.»

Read alsoBasketball: a jostled time, the Blues walk on the Czechs

Rudy Gobert (pivot) : “We continue to progress, match after match and day after day, that’s why we have preparation matches. We had somewhat complicated starts at each meeting… But the positive point is that we are coming together, we are getting stronger as the match goes on and behind, we play the basketball we want and that we have to play. It was a great test for us and we will continue to work hard to get stronger (before the EuroBasket). Play big shooters? At the stage where I am, I can defend on anyone, anywhere, it’s just different. One match out of two, out of three, I defend against big guys who have been shooting in recent years. It is a strength. It’s up to us to be on the same wavelength on the pitch.»

It put us back on the ground.

Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot

Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (winger) : “I have to start the matches better and it’s the same thing collectively. We are not serious enough at the start of the match, we make mistakes, we try to show ourselves, especially since it was at Bercy in front of our families, we try to prove when we have nothing to prove , we must be happy to be there, have fun, play and play together above all, that’s what took us far last year (money at the Olympics, editor’s note) and what can take us far this year. We can’t start like that at the Euro. It’s super important to start matches better. I think we’ll do it, I’m sure of it. It’s a rhythm that we must nab on the first matches of the Euro. (…) It’s always good to be confronted with difficulties in preparation, it allows you to learn. It also put us back on the ground. There is nothing that is due, nothing that will be given to us, we must attack each match as if we had won nothing, done nothing and everything to prove.»

Comments collected in the mixed zone and at a press conference, in Bercy