France was eliminated from the Mundobasket after losing to Latvia. The European vice-champions experienced a real fiasco, and one of the most experienced in the team, Nikola Batum, called the players, as well as the Federation of that country, to account.
“I’m still hot… Big disappointment. We broke down mentally. They were also physically superior. We didn’t play as a team. We didn’t manage to escape them and get away from them. This match is a reflection of what has been happening to us for the last five or six weeks. We are a very good team and we have shown that in previous years, but now everyone should put a finger on the forehead because of everything that happened this summer. The players, the coaches, the federation…” said Batum after the match.
The hardened shooter clearly meant one of the leaders of the national team, Toma Huertel.
Due to his decision to sign for Russian Zenit last season, he was removed from the national team…
“That we are losing some players just like that, that we are losing basketball players because of politics… It is not clear to me.” We should all be committed to the success of the national team. I don’t really care about world politics, I want France to have the best possible representation”.
Batum is disappointed by the fact that his last Mundobasket ended in this way, but calls for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris next summer to close ranks in the ranks of the “Tricolor”.
“This is my last World Cup. I sacrificed many summers for this jersey and I don’t regret it. We were not allowed to give up certain players… We were together for years, we did something… Yes, we players screwed up here. But many people should reconsider. I have one more year left in France. We need them all next summer in Paris. All of! And the best possible conditions. I messed up my last Mundobasket and it really hurts. That’s why I’m not interested in politics and I want the strongest possible team next summer at the Olympic Games”, concluded Batum.
