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National Teams 23/06/2009, 10.17

Noah To Join France In Vichy

Tra loro figura anche Noah

National Teams

Joakim Noah won't play in the Additional Qualifying Round for the EuroBasket in Poland but he will meet up with the France squad when they begin their preparations in July.

France coach Vincent Collet has reduced his 29-man preliminary group to 18 with Noah among those still involved.

The Bulls have told France they do not want Noah, who excelled with the Bulls is second NBA campaign, to play in the additional qualifiers, including the group games against Italy and Finland, or at the EuroBasket.

But they have agreed their star can work out with the national side.

"The Chicago Bulls executives are serious people," said Patrick Beesley, the director of the France team, in L'Equipe.

"We have been able to bend certain things but now there is a deal and we have to remain within those parameters."

The New York-born Noah, whose father is former French Open winner Yannick Noah and his mother, Cécilia Rodhe, was Miss Sweden in 1978, will join the national team for the beginning of their training in Vichy on July 2.

Mickael Pietrus is also included although it is understood he may need a minor operation and won't play in the additional qualifiers.

Collet said in a statement issued by the French Basketball Federation: "The sporting aims are very clear. Our first will be to qualify for the EuroBasket.

"We know very well that if we are able to qualify for that we will have possibilities to do good things. But in order to arrive, we need to win the first stage.

"We need to take it one step at a time starting with our games against Italy on August 5.

"I have spoken to the players they are all determined and aware of what is needed."

France will host a friendly tournament in Strasbourg at the end of July and the final squad will then be named.

18-man squad: Alexis Ajinca, Nicolas Batum, Yannick Bokolo, Nando De Colo, Aldo Curti, Mamoutou Diarra, Boris Diaw, Laurent Foirest, Joseph Gomis, Alain Koffi, Adrien Moerman, Joakim Noah, Tony Parker, Johan Petro, Florent Pietrus, Mickael Pietrus, Ali Traore, Ronny Turiaf. On standby: Rodrigue Beaubois, Yakhouba Diawara, Antoine Diot, Mickaël Gelabale, Dounia Issa, Claude Marquis, Ludovic Vaty.

E. Carchia

E. Carchia

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