France head coach got his wish to be in the same grouping as the US men’s national basketball team.
Shortly after France’s dominant win over Canada Sunday evening, FIBA officials held a lottery to group the squads competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“We want to get to the Olympics,” Les Bleus head coach Vincent Collet said prior to the lottery. “All the players love the national team, and all our success comes from this love. It’s not a sacrifice to play for the national team. We are ready to give everything for the national team.”
“We know we have something to prove in Rio. In 2012, we were very close to getting a medal, so our goal is to go as far as possible in the tournament.”
In a surprise, the 53 year old mentor hoped that his team will be grouped with the top-ranked team in the world, the USA.
“Honestly, I would like to be with the USA in our group,” he added.
Collet got his wish as France is part of Group A together with the US Dream Team. Also in Group A are Serbia (number 6 in the world), Australia (number 11), China (number 14), and Venezuela (number 22).
The men’s basketball tournament in the 2016 Olympic Games is set to begin on August 6 at the Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro. The Les Bleus finished in sixth place during the 2012 London Games.
