Team France is rapidly becoming a team of have-nots in advance of the 2010 FIBA World Championships. Just one day after coach Vincent Collet made Joakim Noah’s non-participation with France official, the squad has also been forced to announce that 22-year-old Dallas Maverick Rodrigue Beaubois has suffered a foot injury and will not be playing in the tournament.
No word on the extent of Beaubois’ injury – a broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot – or the length of basketball time he’ll miss, but he won’t be back by August 28 for sure. “It’s a blow for our team,” said Collet in announcing the injury, “because in the two weeks of training he had contributed enormously with his speed and skill.”
Collet added that “I have not yet decided on a replacement.”
Notable names missing from Team France for the world championship now include Noah, Beaubois, Tony Parker, and Rony Turiaf. Alexis Ajinca, who had been away from the team for a fortnight after the death of his father, got back to training with Les Blues this week.
