By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Lille, France – Reacting to a loss for France against Germany and the deficit peaking at 24 points before settling at 14 points at the buzzer, Evan Fournier naturally focused on the next challenge in the 2024 Olympic Games.
“You want to win every game that you play, obviously. You want to work on stuff, you got to work on execution, you got to work on all those things,” he replied about his side clinching a berth before the contest on Friday, “Tonight, obviously it was not good enough. We were definitely not thinking, okay, that is small.”
Fournier, 31, finished with ten points behind 2/5 field goals, one rebound, and one assist. He lasted nearly 17 minutes in a one-sided affair.
Forced to 2-1 at the end of pool play and in the second seed of Group B, the tournament hosts will face Canada, Australia, Serbia, South Sudan, or the United States in the Quarterfinals, depending on the conclusion of Group C on Saturday. Following the preliminary round, moving to Paris combines with single-elimination games the rest of the way.
“The obvious choice is USA. It is definitely them,” the veteran of multiple international tournaments discussed the remaining medal contenders, “After them, there are a few teams that have a shot. But it is basketball. It is just one game. A lot of things have happened, obviously.”
After Les Bleus get their next opponent tomorrow, action shifts to the capital of France on Tuesday.
Photo Credit: FIBA