Batum named in France's 14-man list for third window of Qualifiers

PARIS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Nicolas Batum is set to return for France and play for the first time in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers after being named on Friday in the 14-player squad for their games at Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia in the third window.

Batum missed last summer's FIBA EuroBasket campaign for personal reasons and France were eager to bring the 29-year-old back into the fold.

France squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers
Andrew Albicy	Nicolas Batum	Fabien Causeur	Nando De Colo
Boris Diaw	Moustapha Fall	Evan Fournier	Rudy Gobert
Thomas Heurtel	Edwin Jackson	Louis Labeyrie	Paul Lacombe
Mathias Lessort	Vincent Poirier
Reserves
Axel Julien	Alain Koffi	Lahaou Konate	Yakuba Ouattara

"The games coming are going to be very important because we absolutely need to win the next two in order to start the second round only with wins," Batum said to FIBA.basketball. "With the new qualifying system, you have to get the most wins you can in the first round in order to get in the best spot for the start of the second round.

"The goal is to be with six wins after the June-July window, and we can do so."

Other players among the 14 that have a chance of making their first appearances in the Qualifiers are Evan Fournier, Nando De Colo, Rudy Gobert, Thomas Heurtel, Matthias Lessort, Vincent Poirier and Fabien Causeur.

Captain Boris Diaw, Andrew Albicy, Moustapha Fall, Edwin Jackson and Louis Labeyrie are among those included to have already played in the Qualifiers, helping France win all four of their games to top Group E.

Three of the four reserves named - Axel Julien, Alain Koffi, Lahaou Konate - have played in Qualifiers, while the fourth reserve is AS Monaco Basket's Yakuba Ouattara.

Batum's absence was telling last summer when France competed at the EuroBasket and lost in the Round of 16 to Germany.

“A LOT OF PLAYERS DIDN'T HAVE ANY INTERNATIONAL OR NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE BEFORE THE START OF THE QUALIFIERS AND THEY SHOWCASED THEIR TALENT AND HELPED THE TEAM WIN. THE NATIONAL TEAM NOW HAS A LOT OF OPTIONS. IT'S GREAT FOR THE FUTURE" Batum

The 29-year-old has been keeping a close eye on events in the Qualifiers.

"It's so great to see that we are on top of the group and most importantly, that we haven’t lost a game so far," he said. "The guys did a very good job in the first two windows, and they showed what they are capable of."

Batum has been one of France's top players since his first FIBA EuroBasket campaign in 2009. He earned a spot on the All-Star Five at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain four years ago.

Batum says the Qualifiers have given his country an opportunity to increase the size of their squad.

"I really liked what I saw," he said. "A lot of players didn't have any international or national team experience before the start of the campaign and they showcased their talent and helped the team win.

"The national team now has a lot of options. It's great for the future."

That fact that Batum will not have an opportunity to play a home game in the third window does not make him any less excited to take part. He's looking forward to hitting the hardwood in enemy territory.

"We're going to have crowds and fans cheering against us and pushing hard for their team," he said. "We know how passionate fans are in those two countries. They love basketball and we expect to have the entire crowd against us (smiles).

"But that's normal, it's part of the game, it's one of the beauties of the game. It's beautiful to play at home in front of your fans and your family and friends, but playing away is also a great experience as you discover and experience a different atmosphere, and you have to fight and play against everyone to win.

"BORIS HAS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE AND WE SAW IT DURING THE GAMES OF THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR. HE'S ALWAYS MAKING AN IMPACT ON OFFENSE OR DEFENSE. HIS LOVE FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM IS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING" Batum

"Those two games are going to be very intense, and we'll need to play at our best level to win both to wrap up this first round without losing any game."

Batum is also excited to have the chance to play alongside Boris Diaw, someone that has been in the senior national team since 2001. Diaw hit the game-winning shot against Russia in the waning seconds of overtime in France's third victory in the Qualifiers.

"He is a role model for all of us, a great example of a competitor," Batum said. "He's always coming to play for the national team and he always has a lot of impact on and off the court.

"You need a guy like him on every team. He's a leader, a core member. Boris has so much experience and we saw it during the games of the campaign so far. He's always making an impact on offense or defense. His love for the national team is something beautiful and amazing."

Les Bleus will meet up in Nanterre on 25 June and fly to Bosnia and Herzegovina on three days later. After facing the Bosnians on Friday, June 29 (8:30pm) in Tuzla, they will then travel to Krasnodar where they will take on Russia on Monday, July 2 (7pm).

Upon their return to Paris on July 3, Team France Basket will then head to Guadeloupe on July 4 to take part in the Florent Pietrus and Mickael Gelabale jubilee taking place on July 6. Long-time national team stars Pietrus and Gelabale stopped playing for France after the 2016 Olympics.

FIBA