PAU (EuroBasket 2009) - Nicolas Batum has played an instrumental role for France as they have kept their hopes of reaching the EuroBasket, and next year’s FIBA World Championship, alive.
 
Now the young forward appears to be an uncertainty for Les Bleus’ crunch game with Italy on Friday because of a shoulder problem.
 
Arguably France's best player so far in the Additional Qualifying Round, Batum felt discomfort during Les Bleus' 82-72 win over Finland in Pau on Saturday but still managed to score 14 points.
 
Early results of exams by doctors have indicated that the 20-year-old has had some “shoulder instability for several months”, according to the French Basketball Federation.
 
Batum was held out of practice on Tuesday but is hopeful of rejoining his teammates in training on Wednesday.
 
France have been in contact with Batum's NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers, to keep them up to date on the player's fitness.
 
Batum has averaged 17 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in France's wins over Italy and Finland.
 
France must top Group B ahead of Italy (1-1) and Finland (0-2) and then beat the winners of Group A (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium or Portugal) in the Additional Qualifying Round for the EuroBasket to reach Poland.
 
If they make it to the Final Round, France would need a top-six finish to reach next year’s big event in Turkey. If the Turks were to finish in the top six in Poland, then a top-seven finish would be good enough for Les Bleus.
 
FIBA