Captain Guerschon Yabusele’s anger: « We played more individually »
August 31, 2025
Frédéric Fauthoux after France – Israel: « We lost our footing »
French National Team - Head coach Frédéric Fauthoux discussed France's defeat against Israel (82-69) during the Blues' third match at EuroBasket 2025.
Photo Credit : Julie Dumélié
Defeated for the first time at EuroBasket 2025, the French men’s team showed a less convincing performance this Sunday, August 31 against Israel. After a good start (20-10, 8′), the Blues let their opponents come back to tie the score (36 all at halftime) and then take control in the last quarter. Without being overly dramatic, head coach Frédéric Fauthoux didn’t hide his dissatisfaction after the game.
Can you tell us about this first defeat and what it means for the Blues’ momentum at the Euro?
I think it was bound to happen someday, we shouldn’t fool ourselves. It’s part of the game and I think we all need to grow from experiences like this. Everyone, I mean. It’s a setback but not the end. We still have very important and interesting games ahead. Maybe now we’ll need to do some calculations too. But it’s not a definitive stop, not a disillusion either. I think we were prepared but in terms of the commitment we wanted, I don’t think we were up to par.
Are you disappointed with how it happened and particularly about the large margin of defeat at the end?
Honestly, we’re always disappointed with the way we lose. But yes, the biggest disappointment is the margin. We lost our footing, it can happen. Never forget that whether we win or lose, this is still a team under construction. We really need to fix some things. However, what I told the players is that we often struggle to get going.
How do you explain losing your footing? Guershon mentioned the play was « more individual » than usual.
Tonight’s opponents always present atypical defenses. The trap is precisely holding onto the ball too long. That’s what we did. Even though we were warned, we couldn’t adapt.
Were these things you had already seen in previous games that got amplified today? Or was it specific to today?
No, it’s more specific to today based on what the opposing team presented us with.
You faced a zone defense.
I think our one-on-one and athletic abilities frighten opponents. They give us a lot of space to defend our one-on-ones. What’s unfortunate is that we have many good shooters who aren’t confident and successful right now. That’s part of basketball. We just need to make two or three open shots to reverse this confidence trend. That’s also part of the game. And these are things that our high-level players can fix.
Those two or three shots came from Elie Okobo, why didn’t it work after that?
We didn’t make them before, and we didn’t make them after. Sure, if it’s just a two-minute stretch, that’s too little. And even for the game’s rhythm, for building confidence, when playing against such defense, as an opposing coach, you expect a run. But you have to look at the entire game.
There’s a huge game Tuesday against Poland. The stakes will be very high for the final Group D standings. How do you approach this game against Poland in what will be a hostile atmosphere?
I think there will be stakes for everyone. And not just that game. I think Slovenia-Israel will also be high stakes. We’ll see. And that’s not forgetting our game against Iceland. We’ll prepare to play the best possible game.
And regarding the hostile atmosphere, will this also be a learning experience for this young group?
Yes, but it might also be a situation where we can see the strength of a group if we stay united. Atmospheres like this are rather normal, players enjoy it. So that’s not what worries me.
Regarding Alexandre Sarr, what’s his situation? Was it just precautionary not to play him this Sunday? Is there concern going forward?
We’ll see as we go along.
How was the atmosphere after the game, the players’ morale?
Disappointed, naturally. It’s normal, disappointed but not defeated. Far from it. I think when we arrived here, we hadn’t planned to remain undefeated throughout. I would have signed for that, but it would have been more than exceptional. It would have been almost unhoped for. As I say, defeat is really part of the game. It could have happened yesterday (Saturday). It happened today. It’s an additional step. But a European championship, if you want it, is long. We’ll see how the group reacts. I don’t know yet since it’s the first time this has happened to us.
Does it boil in your head as much as when you lose with your club team?
Yes, the same. Even more tonight.
In Katowice,
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve est le fondateur et rédacteur en chef de BeBasket, qu’il anime depuis 2010 (sous le nom de Catch & Shoot). Passé par l’Ecole Publique de Journaliste de Tours, puis deux universités en Amérique du Nord, il a pu développer son expertise sur le basket français, de la Ligue Nationale aux divisions amateurs, durant ces 20 dernières années. En parallèle, il est aussi engagé dans le développement de clubs du côté de Montpellier.
Commentaires