This is the last stage of the strange preparation of the Blues before Euro 2022. A qualifying match for the 2023 World Cup, in Bosnia and once morest a team more dangerous than it looks, before taking off for Cologne in earnest to get to the heart of the matter. In case of victory tonight? The icing on the cake, the French team would take a big step towards qualifying for the CDM.
It’s taking its course, as the other would say. On Wednesday evening, France defeated the Czech Republic at the AccorHotel Arena, thus confirming its hold (along with Lithuania) over their qualifying group. A win tonight? 90% of the way would be done and it would then take one or two big max victories during the last two windows next November and February. France will face Lithuania twice, then once more Bosnia (at home) and the Czech Republic (outside).
But let’s go back to this August 27th, just fresh as it should be, and therefore to this match, this evening in Sarajevo, once morest a team which has not yet said its last word and which presents a roster that is anything but disgusting. Headlining? Jusuf Nurkic obviously, a physical monster sometimes devoid of reflection on a pitch but above all capable of sending a 20/15 on any racket in the world. Dzanan Musa is the other NBAer (former at least) of the group, and names like John Roberson or Miralem Pjanic Halilovic necessarily say something to LNB aficionados. Add to that a Sarajevesque atmosphere and this paradox not easy to manage of qualifying matches… but also of preparation, especially when you know that France and Bosnia will also face each other during the Euro (we no longer understand nothing), so the evening encounter might be more balanced than you think.
For the Blues? This match will obviously be the last to adjust affinities and systems, but it will also allow Vincent Collet and his staff to make the final choices for the final decision. Twelve players will go to Germany tomorrow, and for the moment there is little information on those who might leave the group before the Euro, especially since Boris Diaw announced a few days ago that Moustapha Fall was still likely to join the potos in the next few days. The FFBB announced yesterday a list of 12 players for tonight, read between the lines what you want to read there, but in any case it will probably be necessary to say goodbye to two players in the Cordinier / Tarpey / Jaiteh / Maledon list.
The 12 Blues once morest Bosnia and Herzegovina tomorrow ????
Andrew Albicy, Isaiah Cordiner, Evan Fournier, Rudy Gobert, Thomas Heurtel, Mohamed Jaiteh, Timothy Luwawu-Cabarrot, Amath M’Baye, Elie Okobo, Vincent Poirier, Terry Tarpey and Guerschon Yabusele.
– French basketball teams (@FRABasketball) August 26, 2022
8 p.m. tonight, on France 4 and on BeIN, to see our Blues one last time before their departure for Cologne, to get well for the rest of these qualifiers, to see the Gobe grate the Nurke?
