France Clinches EuroBasket 2025 Berth with Triumph over Croatia
In a pulsating clash at the raucous Jazine Arena in Zadar, the French national basketball team showcased their mettle by edging out Croatia 83-80 on Friday, February 21. This hard-fought victory secured their official ticket to the EuroBasket 2025 championship.
With their fifth consecutive victory, the Bleus punched their passport to the continental tournament scheduled to grace four host nations – Latvia, Finland, Poland, and Cyprus – from August 27th to September 14th. Boosted by the return of several EuroLeague stars for the concluding qualification window – which culminates on Monday in Orléans against Bosnia and Herzegovina – the French faced a determined Croatian squad desperate to keep their qualification hopes alive.
During a closely contested first half, the Blues managed to establish a narrow nine-point lead in the second quarter (32-23). However, under the stewardship of their new coach Frédéric Fauthoux, who replaced Vincent Collet last autumn, they failed to pull away. Croatia’s Mario Hezonja, a Real Madrid stalwart, led the scoring charge with 16 points, while the French committed a worrying number of turnovers.
With only a slender 37-35 halftime advantage, Isaïa Cordinier and his teammates returned with renewed vigor, orchestrating a 10-point lead thanks to a basket from Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (12 points, 4 rebounds), who joined the squad after Evan Fournier’s withdrawal for personal reasons. The Vitoria, Spain-based forward was among the EuroLeague players recalled for this international window. Another notable addition was Monaco’s Elie Okobo, who proved invaluable and emerged as the leading scorer for the Blues with 16 points (along with four rebounds and two assists).
With the able support of Bodian Massa (10 points, 7 rebounds), Amine Noua (13 points), and Okobo once again, the Blues weathered the valiant comeback attempts by Hezonja’s Croatian side. Hezonja delivered a formidable performance, notching a double-double (37 points, 11 rebounds).
The closing moments were nail-biting, but a desperate last-ditch three-pointer from Borna Kapusta, albeit spectacular, could not alter the outcome. Croatia bid farewell to their EuroBasket hopes, while the Blues savored their triumph.
Wembanyama’s EuroBasket Participation Uncertain
As the Blues look ahead to the late summer tournament, a lingering question mark hovers over the potential presence of Victor Wembanyama. The electrifying 21-year-old French superstar’s NBA season was abruptly halted due to the detection of a venous thrombosis in his right shoulder.
Boris Diaw, general manager of the French national team, acknowledged Wembanyama’s burning desire to play and the immense disappointment such a prolonged absence would bring.
The announcement by Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs on Thursday initially sparked concern, evoking memories of Chris Bosh, a two-time champion with the Miami Heat, who was forced into early retirement in June 2017 at age 32 after experiencing multiple episodes of this condition.
However, according to Dr. Hugh Gelabert, a vascular surgeon who successfully performed surgery on Brandon Ingram in 2019 for the same issue, Wembanyama’s situation appears "entirely different" from Bosh’s. Unlike Bosh, the French player’s blood clot formed in his shoulder rather than his legs.
"Shoulder clots tend to be lower risk and are typically smaller than leg clots," explained Gelabert, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The Spurs’ medical team has not yet provided a definitive timeline for Wembanyama’s recovery, leaving his EuroBasket participation shrouded in uncertainty. If he does make it to the tournament, his inclusion would undoubtedly provide a formidable boost to the French squad, who harbor hopes of emulating their solitary triumph in 2013 under the leadership of Tony Parker.
