Euro 2022 | Evan Fournier named captain of the Blues

Given the combined absences of Nicolas Batum, the usual captain of theFrench teamand Nando de Colo, the other captain of the tricolor locker room, it was necessary to reorganize the hierarchy in Vincent Collet’s group.

Thus, in view of theEuro 2022 (September 1-18) is Evan Fournier who was designated to take the captaincy in the absence of “Batman”, while Rudy Gobert was named vice-captain of the Blues. Little surprise, therefore, since these are the two leading players in the squad.

However, despite this new status that many promised him, the back of the Knicks does not want to drastically change his way of being. Both on the field and in the locker room.

“ I never gave much importance [au rôle de capitaine] “, Admitted rightly Evan Fournier, a little earlier in the week, in the columns of Figaro. ” When you are captain, you necessarily have responsibilities, but it is not something that I claim. I don’t necessarily have a particular desire to be captain. Either way, leadership happens naturally on the pitch. It will be the decision of the coaches and it will be respected, that’s all. »

And then to add, still at a press conference, about a possible status as spokesperson for the Blues: “ No, I’m a leader of the team, very clearly, I have a certain weight in relation to that. I am one of the most capped, one of the most experienced, but that’s it. It’s just a story of personality and experience. »

More than just a captain

Without the Batum/de Colo duo, the Fournier/Gobert pair will obviously have to behave differently, both on and off the court. But according to this same Evan Fournier, it will mainly be up to the other players to take advantage of this opportunity to take the lead in the group.

” It implies less experience on the field, with these players who know these competitions very well. We have lived a lot together. They will also lack their leadership and a certain know-how. It will be up to us to renew ourselves a little and play differently “, he noted first, about the absences of Nicolas Batum and Nando de Colo. ” But that won’t change our role with Rudy [Gobert]. The roles were already the same at the Olympics. We may need to do a little more. Afterwards, you make up for the absences with the players present. There will be players who will have other opportunities and who will have to do more, I am thinking for example of Timothé [Luwawu-Cabarrot]. »

In reality, beyond his role as captain and attacking leader of the French team, Evan Fournier now wishes to take on the role of ambassador of French basketball.

” Over the past two years, my vision of things has evolved. “, he continued. ” At the beginning, I was a young player who was trying to earn his place, to make a name for himself, to win and that is still the case. But the older you get, the more you feel the desire and determination to advance your sport in your country and, more generally, sport in France. I find that there is a lot to do, like inspiring young people, so that there is a tradition that continues in France. We had a lot of good players in the past. I think of Boris [Diaw, le manager général de la Team France Basket, ndlr], which is still there. There is a certain form of continuity and it is important for us to hand over to young people, to show them how things are going, to show very good values. Games [de Tokyo]that’s really what was striking in our team, so we will try to push things forward even more in the future. »

And what better than a title of European champion next September to go in the right direction?