What a joy to watch and see this generation of French players win. The level rises every year and promises great prospects for the future. This bronze medal is the best performance at this level. Let’s review this tournament and its lessons together.
First of all, the roster. The players are unanimous in saying that the collective played a big part in the success. They all know each other from the Poles or the D1 championship. They come from many clubs all over France and have each found their place in the D1 rosters. Two pitchers were missing who might have made the difference: Firmin Hassed and Mathias Lacombe. The coaches are also at the origin of this symbiosis: the duo Keino Perez and Shane Priest ticks many boxes that these young players need to perform.
We remember 3 wins and 2 losses. We remember a semi-final lost by a hair’s breadth that leaves a feeling that it could have gone against the champions and leaders of Europe, the Dutch. We remember a pitching depth that reassures the defense. We remember a rain of hits that advance the players on base and end up scoring. We remember the mindset without contestation, without anger, turned towards the game and not against the refereeing body. We remember that qualification for the World Cup is approaching at a rapid pace, it will be soon, no doubt about it. We remember that players who go through the American curriculum bring stability and performance. We remember that the chance is given to the youngest: Ben Couvreur, who is still 18U, held his place as a starter very well and against the strongest players at that.
At the statistical level, France achieved some great performances. Some solid ERAs (Mathis Nayral, Ben Couvreur, Tanguy Meurant..) At the batting level with the best Paolo Brossier then Pierre Doat and Miguel Lopez.
What could be the areas for improvement:
- Half of the players come from two clubs: Montpellier and Rouen. This shows that these two clubs know how to train or attract young talented players in their generation, but this distribution of young players should be better balanced in all other D1 teams. It is up to the latter to know how to attract them.
- A better mental and physical approach to the first match in competition. The Italians took advantage of a timid and unsure French team, but which then reacted magnificently.
- A better mental approach to match pressure. Winning against the Dutch required a solidity that would have avoided the few small defensive errors that the latter exploited well to come back and win.
- Always train more for a more decisive batting. Only Paolo Brossier hit a home run and a triple. This part of the game must be more efficient to be able to score points faster and more serenely. We see in the other teams several big power hitters, this is not yet the case for the French team.
Let’s give the floor to some heroes of this European Cup:
Paolo Brossier: It was a united group and we did what every united group does, we performed. It was beautiful even if we could have gone higher, the future will bring it to us.
Tanguy Meurant: It was an extraordinary experience for me and for the whole team. We formed a solid, motivated, determined team to excel and reach the final, and win the competition. During this competition, we had a staff that worked tirelessly to provide the best support to the players. During the competition, we showed the world what France represents in baseball, demonstrating that we should not be underestimated. Our tense semi-final against the Dutch was a memorable moment, where we almost secured a place in the final. Their celebrations after the match testified to the respect we have earned as a formidable team.
Although the defeat remains in our minds, it motivates us to come back even stronger and more determined. I am extremely proud of our achievements and I believe this is just the beginning of our journey. We now aspire to shine in all future competitions and win medals for France.
Martin Vissac: I think we are all happy to have brought back this medal even if some feelings of disappointment persist with the semi-final defeat where we could have reached the final and the place at the World Championship. But finishing with the victory in the small final shows that today France has become a better country in baseball. Moreover, our team was very young during this tournament and therefore has a promising future for the next U23 and that France will remain at the top and must aim for the first place. It’s up to us to change that to put France at the top of European baseball for the years to come!
But the important thing is that we were all having fun playing together in the best and worst moments, that’s what earns us this place today. Very proud of this group with whom I participated in this tournament and this place!
Pierre Doat: We had a great atmosphere in the team but also with the staff which allowed us to be in very good mental conditions. It was a pure pleasure to play with this team and bring back a medal, it must become an obvious thing for France.
