Men's Euro Basketball: Matthew Strazel withdraws due to injury, four days before the French team's start

This is another blow for the French basketball team. After the absences of Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, and Mathias Lessort, they will have to do without Matthew Strazel for the Euro, which begins Wednesday, August 27. The 23-year-old point guard (20 caps), injured in the thigh, had to withdraw. He has been replaced by Nadir Hifi, the French team's management announced on Sunday. Frédéric Fauthoux's men make their tournament debut on Thursday in Poland against Belgium at 5 p.m.

Injured following a crutch injury during the warm-up match against Spain (78-73) in Paris on August 16, the AS Monaco point guard was rested on Sunday during the victory in Athens against Greece (92-77). "Further tests have however confirmed that the player still needs to undergo a period of rest, followed by a necessary physical recovery, following his stoppage. Delays incompatible with his participation in Eurobasket," detailed the French team in a press release . "Lightning strikes me. I have no words, only tears. I would have done everything to vibrate with this jersey and to carry this new generation," lamented Matthew Strazel in a message on X.

The Olympic runner-up is giving way to Nadir Hifi, who will return to Les Bleus "as of Monday in Katowice," Poland. The guard, who plays for Paris Basketball, the reigning French champion, was the last player to be excluded from the list of twelve players selected for the competition, unveiled on August 17.

It's a largely reworked team compared to the one at the Paris Games that will be heading to the Euro after these significant withdrawals. The Blues have, however, built up a lot of confidence with five wins in as many warm-up matches, notably against Spain and the Hernangomez brothers and Greece and Giannis Antetokounmpo.