Nicolas Batum, the captain of the French national team, addressed the media following the match against Latvia at the FIBA World Cup.
In the sensational defeat, Batum recorded 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists. He began by expressing the team’s profound disappointment.
“We let down a lot of people, ourselves first and foremost. Everyone needs to question why this happened. This is a reality check for all of us. When you wear that jersey, you have to play for the name on the front. We didn’t do that. As a leader, I need to understand what I can do better. Congratulations to Latvia,” said the disappointed captain.
UPSET IN JAKARTA. ๐คฏ#FIBAWC x #WinForLatvia ๐ฑ๐ป
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 27, 2023
Batum highlighted that Nando de Colo’s ejection was a pivotal moment in the game, causing a shift in momentum.
“That was the turning point. The momentum shifted. We lost our general. We tried to overcome this. We tried to silence the crowd, but the energy changed very quickly. They have an amazing crowd. It’s crazy that we had a chance to win. We’ve beaten good teams, but anyone can beat us if we don’t approach the game with the right mentality. This is a real blow for us,” emphasized Batum.
Assessing the team’s defensive prowess, Nicolas Batum acknowledged that defense is a hallmark of the French national team, but it faltered at the World Cup.
About defense
“We are one of the top two or three defensive teams in every tournament. In every quarter, they scored more than 23 points. I take responsibility for that. I haven’t been a good leader. As a team, we need to bounce back. We led for 38 minutes and 53 seconds in this game. We want to perform well next year on our home court,” stated the Clippers’ player.
Batum concluded by expressing his shame and genuine regret over the loss. He emphasized that this defeat is the biggest disappointment since he began playing for France.
“I’ve had tough losses with the national team. It’s different when you lose in the semis or quarters. I’m ashamed. For the first time, I don’t want to go home; I’m scared. We need everyone’s dedication. We all need to talk,” concluded the captain.
In the final round of the World Cup, France will play for honor against the Lebanese national team.