betprepare.com

France are playing their last friendly game before the trip to the Philippines for the Olympics Qualifications tournament. So far they played four friendly games, they only defeated Latvia by 17. Latvia were weakened, but so was France. Then they played two very attractive games against Serbia, lost both of them, one in Paris which they didn't take well. Both games were decided in the final attacks, in Belgrade they lost in overtime. They will want to give home fans a good game ahead of the trip to the Philippines. They chose Japan because they are similar to Philippines, and they showed at the Asian Championship last year that they are somewhat weaker than Philippines, they were 4th at that tournament. They are the weakest ranked team that can still qualify for the Olympics, but considering what they showed so far, it is unlikely. They played five friendlies, all in China at the Atlas tournament. There they only defeated China's B team by one point (down by 11 at halftime), then they lost to New Zealand, Belarus twice and Idaho's university team (lost the last quarter 13-30). They had a lot of problems in offense, they don't have a real center, and it is strange that selector Hasegawa did not decide to take in Senegalese Faye who is the best center in the Japanese league. Important shooting guards Tanaka and Kanamaru are out because of injuries. It can be expected that the French will start with their strongest team, the Japanese are physically nowhere near them, and the Asian team base pretty much everything on backcourt shots, but French defense is at a higher level. I am convinced that the home team will have a serious approach and that they will solve the game in the first half.