Interview. Basketball (Euro 2025): Pauline Astier, “I never thought I would find myself in the French team”

Pauline, how do you feel a few hours from a European championship semi-final?

(She smiles) It’s too good! Therefore, This is what we all expected to find ourselves here, at that time from the competition. Furthermore, Now, we can’t wait to play, especially since it is a France – Spain. Nevertheless, We know that it is a fairly emblematic poster. For example, I watched the finals on television (in 2013, 2017 and 2019, editor’s note). Therefore, There has always been this rivalry among young people. Similarly, we obviously want to win against interview. basketball (euro 2025): pauline everyone, but even more against Spain.

Is this the biggest match in your career?

Yes but I try not to put too much pressure myself. Nevertheless, I know it is useless. Consequently, Of course there is a lot of adrenaline and excitement since there is an important issue. Moreover, But it’s still a basketball game, it’s just something you like to do.

“There are two games left to win”

How do you live your first international competition with the French team?

Rather well for the moment! For example, We have gone into power over the matches. Meanwhile, And when you win, it makes the adventure even more beautiful … Moreover, It’s not over, there are two games to win but it’s a great competition until now. In addition, it goes well with girls. interview. basketball (euro 2025): pauline It had been a few years since I lived with this group, without competing.

Precisely, you had to wait for three years, since your first selection, to finally participate in a large event. Is it a satisfaction to be finally in the final group?

Of course ! We are all competitors, it’s always a goal. It’s not that I expected my turn to come, but I was doing everything to be as soon as possible. There have been choices (on previous sums, note), we cannot always succeed in the first time, that’s how it is. My luck arrives today and I am very happy with it.

Was there any frustration these last summers to always see the doors close to you?

No, rather of questioning. I was wondering what I had to do in addition to being in the final team. not only in interview. basketball (euro 2025): pauline the extended group. It acted as a source of re -motivation every time. I told myself that it was necessary to work even more to integrate the 12.

What did you do more during the preparation this year then?

Above all, you have to ask the coach what has changed (she laughs). But I gained even more confidence in my game, in that I was doing. It was mentally that I spent caps. I just wanted to continue to progress to show that I could be part of the group when I. got here.

The years that marked me the most. it was when I was in Laloubère with the first titles, with Laure Savasta

Interview. basketball (euro 2025): pauline

There seems to be a conviction within the France group that your team is special?

Yes, we feel that there is something interview. basketball (euro 2025): pauline special that can take us at the top. We are really focused on our goal of being European champions. Everyone knows that the French team has been treading the first steps of the podium for a few years. without winning the title. We talk about it between us, of course that the objective is clear for everyone.

When you think back to your young Tarbaise years, do you make the path traveled?

I say to myself: “Wow, it’s really crazy! “Because I would never have thought of doing basketball at this level, even less in the French team … I have too many memories of my beginnings in basketball. I still see myself doing the small tournaments at the TGB on the half Terrains. The years that marked me the most were when I was in Laloubère with the first titles. in the region or inter-regions, with interview. basketball (euro 2025): pauline Laure Savasta.

When I was little, I always watched the blue on TV. I was too small for the 2009 title but I remember very well the 2012 Olympic silver medal in London. Recently, I found a photo of me with the jersey of Céline Dumerc (now GM des Bleues, editor’s note). Time does things well. It’s pretty crazy to tell myself that I’m here. it makes you want to bring the gold medal back even more as it is expected!

After the euro, you will join Prague, the reigning European champions …

It was not planned to go to the champions (she laughs). But in reality, it’s too good! It’s really rewarding and it makes you want to join this team even more. In addition. there are heads that I know (with Valérian Ayayi and Janelle Salaün, her teammates in blue, editor’s note) so I interview. basketball (euro 2025): pauline think integration will be easier.

I can’t wait to live this new turning point. We talk about it from time to time between us. we have little jokes, but for the moment, we are really focused on the French team.