By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nando De Colo announced that he will not be joining the French national team for the FIBA EuroBasket 2022.
“I spoke a few months ago to Vincent (Collet, the coach of the French team) and to the players, explained to them that I absolutely had to ignore the Euro for me and my family, all this with the aim of being present at the 2024 Olympic Games, with the desire to return at the 2023 World Cup to have this continuity and prepare for the following summer,” De Colo told L’Equipe.
The 34-year-old guard was almost always ready to wear the French national team jersey with the exception of only the 2014 FIBA World Cup when he suffered a fractured finger. He’s been a part of the team since 2008.
He participated in the following European Championships: 2009 (5th place), 2011 (silver), 2013 (gold), 2015 (bronze), 2017 (round of 16).
The following World Cups: 2010 (round of 16) and 2018 (bronze). And the following Olympic Games: 2012 (quarterfinals), 2016 (quarterfinals) and 2020 (bronze).
With that in mind, his teammates and the coach understood the decision.
“They understood the situation, they know that I have always responded. In Europe, we chain the seasons, we have no rest after international competitions. Last summer, it was an incredible summer with the medal at the end, but you spend two months without your family and I need it today.”