After loosing four games that would have sent them to EuroBasket 2009, the French national team finally didn't choke on the return leg of its Additional Qualifying Tournament final against Belgium. Well prepared by this full month of competition, France has the potential to make a great run, but consistency has never been their forte.

Tony Parker

Remember Denmark in 1992? After their last minute wildcard for the European Football Championship - because of the banishment of Yugoslavia, the Danish went all the way as the Cinderella team and ended up with the trophy. I bet Vincent Collet, new national team coach and a sort of "Bible" about sports' history, has that story hidden, somewhere, in the back of his head. But Vincent, who was an assistant coach at EuroBasket 2003, is also perfectly aware about France's long list of deceptive games and no-shows at crucial times, starting with their unbelievable loss against Italy in the Bronze Medal game (for a berth in the Athens Olympics), even if Italy was plagued with injuries and had lost by 35 against France in the first round of that tournament. And since their heart breaking loss against Russia in the Quarter-Finals of EuroBasket 2007, France has missed three more chances to qualify for the upcoming Polish tournament. First against Croatia, in the 5th to 8th place semis, Then versus Slovenia, in the game for 7th place. Both times, France led early in the game before looking like the players didn't really care about those less flashy games than a Semi-Final or the gold medal game. At last, last summer, with the team missing a lot of key players, France managed to loose - at home - its last game against a Turkish team already

Boris Diaw

qualified for EuroBasket. This time, this very athletic national team, who got French fans very anxious after loosing the first game in Belgium by 4 points, didn't mess up in the do or die game, killing Axel Hervelle and his teammates 92-54.

So with Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, Ronny Turiaf, Nicolas Batum, all legitimate NBA players, plus Nando De Colo (drafted by the Spurs this summer), Ian Mahinmi (back from injury in the Spurs roster next season) and even Flo Piétrus, announced as a future Bobcats next season, France seems to have the potential to reach the podium. And just imagine that Mike Piétrus (NBA finalist with Orlando but coming back from a wrist injury), Joakim Noah (starting center of the Bulls) could not join "les Bleus" this summer, while Gelabale (a former Sonics), Petro (Nuggets) and Diawara (Miami) chose not to come or did not make the cut.

In the qualifying campaign, France, again, showed two faces. Exceptional against Italy (2 wins) or

Ronny Turiaf

Belgium in the last game, the Frenchmen still had "absences" in Finland (73-77) and in Belgium (66-70). The reason? A lack of defensive intensity and a kind of "Parker addiction" which leads sometimes his teammates into a contemplative attitude on offence. When concentrated on defense, France can make its opponent look like a U16 squad with unbelievable pressure on the ball and on the passing lane. But when the players are not 100% into the game, France can also look like a team fighting relegation to EuroBasket Division B. Fans, journalists and all basketball lovers in France can get driven crazy when watching their favorite team.

But even with its traditional faults, France remains a contender for the podium. Because Turiaf's heart is as big as the scar left on his chest by his heart operation. Because of Boris Diaw, who lost some of his quickness and agility while putting on weight (and not only muscles unfortunately...) in Phoenix and Charlotte, but remains one of the best European all around forwards. Because Flo Piétrus is always raising his level 200% when he wears a national team jersey. Because Batum, De Colo and Diot are at the top of their game approaching this EuroBasket. And because... France can always count on "TP", who became one of the top 10 players in the World.

So which France will we see in Poland? The one who destroyed Italy and Belgium? Or the one who lost in Finland and came close to a catastrophe in its game in Belgium? Who knows? But keep an eye on France! This time, Tony Parker wants a medal, and the kid is used to getting what he wants.