France, one of the favorites to win the FIBA World Cup 2023, suffered a stunning defeat to Latvia in their second group stage game on Sunday, August 27, 2023. The loss eliminated the Les Bleus from the tournament, just one year before they host the Olympics in Paris.
A shocking collapse
France entered the World Cup with high expectations, having won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and the bronze medals at the previous two World Cups. Led by NBA stars Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, and Nicolas Batum, the Les Bleus were aiming for their first ever world title.
However, things went wrong from the start for France, who were blown out by Canada in their opening game, 95-65. The Canadians dominated the boards and shot 50% from the three-point line, while France struggled to find their rhythm on offense.
The Les Bleus had a chance to bounce back against Latvia, a World Cup debutant who had upset Lebanon in their first game. France seemed to be in control for most of the game, leading by as much as 12 points in the fourth quarter. But then, disaster struck.
Nando de Colo, one of France’s best players, was ejected with six minutes left after receiving two unsportsmanlike fouls. Latvia seized the opportunity and went on a 21-11 run to take the lead with 40 seconds remaining. France had one last chance to win the game, but Sylvain Francisco missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Latvia celebrated their historic victory, while France were left stunned and devastated. The final score was 88-86.
A bitter disappointment
France’s early exit from the World Cup was a huge blow for their basketball program, which had invested a lot of resources and talent into building a competitive team. The Les Bleus had hoped to use the World Cup as a preparation for the Olympics, where they will have the home-court advantage and the support of their fans.
Instead, they will have to face the criticism and embarrassment of being one of the first teams to be eliminated from the tournament. They will also have to deal with the psychological impact of losing their confidence and momentum.
Nicolas Batum, who did not play against Latvia due to an injury, expressed his frustration and shame after the game. “I’m scared to go home because we let a lot of people down,” he said. “A lot of people in the country believed in us to do something special. We did not do it.”
Rudy Gobert, who had 16 points and nine rebounds against Latvia, also admitted that France had failed to live up to their potential. “We have a lot of talent on this team, but talent is not enough,” he said. “We have to play with more heart and more pride.”
A lesson to learn
France will have to regroup and learn from their mistakes if they want to redeem themselves at the Olympics next year. They will have to work on their chemistry, consistency, and mental toughness. They will also have to face some tough competition from other teams who are hungry for glory.
One of those teams is Latvia, who proved that they are not just a fluke. The Baltic nation showed that they have some talented players who can compete with anyone in the world. Rolands Smits led Latvia with 20 points against France, while Davis Bertans added 15 points.
Latvia advanced to the second round of the World Cup with a perfect 2-0 record in Group H. They will face Argentina, Spain, and Nigeria in the next stage. Latvia’s coach Roberts Stelmahers said that his team is not satisfied with just making history. “We are here to play basketball and win games,” he said. “We are not afraid of anyone.”
France, on the other hand, will play in the classification round for places 17-32. They will face Angola, Iran, and Tunisia in their remaining games. France’s coach Vincent Collet said that his team has to show some character and respect for their country. “We have to finish this tournament with dignity,” he said. “We have to show that we are still a great basketball nation.”
