By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After Victor Wembanyama, France was forced to rule out Andrew Albicy due to injury.
Albicy, 32, was officially removed from the squad on Sunday. Dealing with thigh pain, he underwent medical tests. Ruling him out of the upcoming international fixtures was deemed necessary, as announced by the French Federation of Basketball, FFBB.
Without plans to name replacements, France will play in the 2022 EuroBasket. Competing in Cologne in the preliminary round versus host Germany, Lithuania, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Slovenia, the goal is to clinch a berth in the next round. The 16 national teams surviving the group stage will move to Berlin with a single-elimination format taking over until the gold medal game on 18 September.
Albicy will also miss the international window in late August. The Blues will be looking to strengthen their bid for a spot in the 2023 FIBA World Cup via Group K of the second and final round of the European Qualifiers. Taking on the Czech Republic at home and visiting Bosnia-Herzegovina are scheduled on 24 and 27 August, respectively.
With two players sidelined, 15 players remain on the list of call-ups by senior national team selector Vincent Collet.
France’s list for EuroBasket and World Cup Qualifiers:
Isaia Cordinier (Virtus Segafredo Bologna)
Moustapha Fall (Olympiacos)
Evan Fournier (New York Knicks)
Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Thomas Heurtel
William Howard (Joventut)
Mouhammadou Jaiteh (Virtus Segafredo Bologna)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Atlanta Hawks)
Theo Maledon (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Amath M’Baye (Anadolu Efes)
Frank Ntilikina (Dallas Mavericks)
Elie Okobo (AS Monaco)
Vincent Poirier (Real Madrid)
Terry Tarpey (Le Mans)
Guerschon Yabusele (Real Madrid)
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL