For them, the road to Tokyo goes through Bourges. As of Thursday, February 6, the players of the French women's basketball team will scrap in the former capital of the Duchy of Berry, stronghold of the orange ball for women. Three games, against Australia (Thursday at 8:30 p.m.), Brazil (Saturday at 8:30 p.m.) and Puerto Rico (Sunday at 4:30 p.m.), in an Olympic Qualification Tournament (TQO) to hope to climb at the Olympic Games (July 24-August 9).
This tournament will not be a walk for the Blue. The Australians are tough customers – the Opals, their nickname, are vice-world champions in title -, and their pivotal phenomenon, Liz Cambage, likes nothing as much as playing the role of "bad girl" and igniting the crowds supporting his opponents. As for Brazil, the team has lost some of its splendor after having had good results at the international level, but the Seleçao want to come back to the fore, and are targeting Tokyo as the first stage.
The heterogeneous format of the TQOs according to the sports benefits here the hexagonal basketball players. Unlike their male volleyball counterparts, for example, forced to win an ultra-high TQO in early January to compost their ticket to Japan, the women's basketball TQO send three of the four participants to the Olympic tournament. A victory over Puerto Rico – a small but largely unknown team in this tournament – on Sunday could be enough to propel Valérie Garnier's squad into a third straight Olympic game. "This team is not to be overlooked, nevertheless warned the French captain, Endy Miyem, before the tournament. It would be a mistake to say that this TQO will be simple and that the qualification is already in the pocket. "
"A certain status to assume"
The French are approaching this tournament with more certainty than the last Euro, disputed in the summer of 2019 with a greatly rejuvenated squad, due to several injuries and finished in second place. In a Prado de Bourges no longer having to prove itself in public matters, the French women move on a familiar floor. Eight players from Les Bleues went under the tango jersey, like a good part of the staff; ideal when you only have a few days to prepare for a decisive tournament. "The Prado is just perfect for hosting these kinds of competitions, recognized Valérie Garnier, who coached the Berruyères for six years. It’s a great tool. "
As in 2016, the French Basketball Federation put their hands in their pocket to organize an Olympic qualification tournament at home, and to reward the regularity of the Blue at the international level. "Bringing the two French teams to the Olympic Games is our mission", insisted the boss of French basketball, Jean-Pierre Siutat, at the beginning of January, when the announcement of the choice of Bourges, "Basketball court", to host the competition. For their part, Vincent Collet’s men saved themselves a tough TQO by winning world bronze at the World Cup in China in the fall.
In addition to the TQO berruyer, three other tournaments take place from Thursday to Sunday, to determine the ten teams qualified for the Olympic competition. Four TQOs in a redesigned format, in which the United States, the reigning world champions, and Japan, the organizing country, participate, despite a place in Tokyo acquired. The coronavirus epidemic in China has forced FIBA, the international federation, to relocate to Belgrade – already host of a TQO – the tournament originally scheduled for Foshan, China.
Olympic vice-champions in London, then fourth in Rio and silver medalists in the last four Euro, the French aspire to mark their territory, at home. "We have a certain status to assume", warns Endy Miyem. And aim for nothing less than first place in this TQO. “Finishing first means winning all of your games against good nations. It can do us good and send a message to the other teams ”, assures Iliana Rupert, one of the promising young shoots of the Blue. And incidentally ensure a better world ranking, on the basis of which the hats of the Olympic tournament will be made. This would allow a simplified route to Tokyo in case of qualification.
