Nadir Hifi replaces Matthew Strazel for EuroBasket 2025!
August 24, 2025
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Matthew Strazel reacts to his EuroBasket withdrawal: « I have no words, only tears »
French National Team - After withdrawing from EuroBasket 2025 due to a thigh injury, Matthew Strazel expressed his distress on X. The AS Monaco point guard won't be able to represent France, as the team enters the competition with a significantly renewed roster.
Photo Credit : Guillaume Poumarede
Following the official announcement of his withdrawal, Matthew Strazel (23 years old, 20 caps) spoke out on X. Forced to withdraw from EuroBasket due to a thigh injury, the AS Monaco point guard didn’t hide his immense disappointment about missing this opportunity with the French national team.
« I would have done anything to feel the energy in this jersey »
In a brief message, Strazel expressed his emotions: « Lightning strikes me down. I have no words, only tears. I would have done anything to feel the energy in this jersey and to lead this new generation 🙏🏽🇫🇷 » he wrote Sunday evening.
His statement reflects the player’s pain, having participated in all preparation games before his forced withdrawal.
la foudre qui s’abat sur moi.
j’ai pas de mots,que des larmes.
J’aurais tout fait pour vibrer avec ce maillot et pour porter cette nouvelle génération 🙏🏽🇫🇷 https://t.co/KW0z3zyKfP— Matthew STRAZEL (@mtwbucket32) August 24, 2025
A largely renewed roster
Strazel’s absence adds to an already major transformation of the French team. From the 2024 Paris Olympics, only three players remain: Guerschon Yabusele, Bilal Coulibaly, and Isaïa Cordinier. Around them, nine new players and a brand new technical staff will tackle EuroBasket 2025.
With Nadir Hifi called up to replace Strazel, France will begin their European campaign this Thursday, August 28, against Belgium in Katowice (Poland).
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.
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