France's Fournier on June-July window: ''You can count me in''

PARIS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - France guard Evan Fournier is eager to rejoin the national team for the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers after his promising season with the Orlando Magic.

While the NBA team struggled and missed out on the playoffs, Fournier had his best individual season to date, averaging a career-high 17.8 points per game. It came on the back of him scoring a team-best 15.8 points for France at FIBA EuroBasket 2017. 

Fournier will provide an offensive boost for a France team (4-0) that is tied with Israel 18th in scoring through two windows.

He spoke to FIBA.basketball.

What are your thoughts on France's unbeaten start in the World Cup Qualifiers?
That is so great to see that we are on top of the group (Group E) and that the guys have won all the games so far. They did the job and we have to stay in the same dynamic in the summer windows. The goal is to reach the second round with six wins, and to start the second round in the best position to qualify as soon as possible for the next FIBA World Cup. All the games matter and we all want to win each of them. We have to keep showing that we are among the most competitive teams on the continent, so every games matters.

Led by Boris Diaw, France have won all four of their World Cup Qualifiers

Are you planning on playing for the national team this summer?
Why wouldn't I go play for the national team like I do every summer? I will be here, that is for sure. In my opinion, there are no reasons for players to miss and not play in the June-July window. You can count me in; I will play with the national team this summer, like I always do every single year. People have to stop asking me this question because I am, and will always be available for the national team during the summer.

How do you assess the present and the future of Les Bleus?
The national team has been doing very well in the last couple of years, and we have been able to win a couple of medals and win great games against very competitive teams. We have a lot of very talented players and we want to keep working on having France between the best teams in the world. We were frustrated after our EuroBasket 2017 campaign, but we want to bounce back. When I see the great potential we have and all the young guys coming up, such as Frank Ntilikina and the young kids of the youth national teams that will knock on the national team door soon, we have all the ingredients to do great things.

"IT'S ONE OF THE BEST FEELINGS EVER FOR AN ATHLETE. I HAVE WORN THE NATIONAL TEAM JERSEY FOR A LONG TIME AND IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME LOVE AND PASSION TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY EVERY TIME I DO SO. I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM; I LOVE TO PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM" FournierFournier

If France were to qualify for the World Cup, what would be the goal for the 'Bleus' at China 2019?
We will have to be ambitious. We are one of the most competitive national teams in the world and the goal is, when you play in a competition, to go far in the tournament. We have plenty of talent and we can beat top teams. The tournament will be great as a lot of national teams can reach medals and I want to help France qualify for the next World Cup and compete in China 2019.

You were part of the team that reached the podium at the last World Cup in Spain in 2014. What is your best memory from this tournament?
It was not only the bronze medal, but also the Quarter-Final we won against Spain. We did beat them on their own soil, with the entire arena and the fans against us, that was an amazing moment. It was one of the best moments of the competition, and I will never forget it. I want to live moments like this again and again with the national team. This game was amazing, but we didn't reach our goal to play in the Final because we were probably still euphoric over this win (against Spain) when we played against Serbia in the Semi-Final. We wanted to win that and reach our goal of playing against Team USA in the final of the tournament.

How important is it for you to play for the national team?
It's very important. I have always been very proud to represent my country and I love to wear the jersey. Like, who doesn't like to represent his country? It's one of the best feelings ever for an athlete. I have worn the national team jersey for a long time and it is always the same love and passion to represent my country every time I do so. I am always available to play for the national team; I love to play for the national team.

Maybe this dream of playing against the USA in the Final of an international tournament will come true next year in China…
Oh yes, absolutely. That would be so great to go to the Final and play against the USA. I think that every player who competes in an international competition would like to play against the USA in the final and fight for the gold medal.

FIBA