PARIS (2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship) - France head coach Julien Egloff is to choose from an initial 20-strong candidate list ahead of the FIBA U19 Women's World Championship in Chekhok (Moscow Region), Russia next month (18-26 July).

The play-caller will trim his roster in two distinct stages, with all of those who have been summoned, being given the chance to impress during a four day evaluation at a preparation camp in Nantes.

Egloff will then release five players before the prestigious Reze Tournament which starts on 18 June, prior to making his final selection ahead of the trip to Chekhov.

While the bulk of the candidates list is made up of those who helped France to the Final of the U18 European Championship Women last year in Matosinhos, Egloff was not holding the coaching reins in Portugal.

However, he will be able to utilise a number of players who actually played in the Final and took a silver medal for a second successive year at the event having also made the title game in 2013.

These include Louise Dambach, Camille Cirgue, Marylie Limousin and Marie Milapie, who are expected to make up the spine of the team in Russia.

Dambach made the All-Tournament Team last year in Portugal and should be the driving force in the backcourt alongside Limousin, while Cirgue and Milapie are anticipated to provide a threat in the paint.

It is likely to be a hugely challenging task for France to repeat their run all the way to the Final at the last edition of the FIBA U19 Women’s World Championship in Klaipeda.

None of the players have any real previous experience of competing on the global stage, with this generation having missed out on the chance to play at the 2012 FIBA U17 Women's World Championship.

Egloff does bring know-how of basketball outside of Europe after coaching his nation at the FIBA U17 Women's World Championship in the Czech Republic last year, when they finished in eighth spot.

France will tussle with Belgium, Canada and Mali in Group C.

France preliminary squad for 2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship: Maimouna Ba, Diana Balayera, Degane Balle-Bonza, Carla Blatrie, Camille Cirgue, Katia Clanet, Mathilde Combes, Louise Dambach, Rose Ducret, Anais Foisse, Alizee Girardet, Clarisse Legrand, Marylie Limousin, Victoria Majekodumni, Leslie Estelle Makosso, Marie Milapie, Catherine Mosengo-Masa, Johanna Muzet, Lea Pellerin, Angelina Turmel.

FIBA