By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Knocked out of contention for a spot over 16th on the final rankings of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, France is set to adjust rotations.
Rudy Gobert with an ankle injury and Moustapha Fall due to tooth pain have been ruled out of the game versus Lebanon, to be played today in Jakarta’s Indonesia Arena, the French Federation of Basketball announced. The update additionally notes that Mathias Lessort will miss the remainder of the World Cup to avoid unnecessary risks to his ankle injury.
The team coached by Vincent Collet will wrap up the round-robin schedule of Group H against Lebanon. Moving to Group P, battling for a spot between 17th and 32nd will be the theme of the remaining games against Iran and Cote d’Ivoire or Brazil.
In contrast to the rest of the countries in the World Cup, the Blues have already qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games as hosts. However, the final rankings will determine the national teams to punch in a direct ticket to next summer’s Olympics and FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
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Gobert, 27, tallied 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest over the losses to Latvia and Canada. A reserve option behind the Minnesota Timberwolves center, Fall was limited to eight minutes of action at the top end of the preliminary round.
Lessort, 27, was cleared to play in the World Cup a few days before tipoff in Indonesia. His efforts resulted in 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
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