New France women's coach Pierre Vincent is intrigued by the match-ups his team will face later this year when they attempt to qualify for the EuroBasket Women in Latvia.

France, who are forced to go into the Division A qualifying after last year's eighth-place finish at the finals in Chieti, Italy, were drawn in Group C with Romania and Croatia - two other sides at last year's EuroBasket - along with Slovakia and Hungary.

"From experience, all the international games are difficult to win," Vincent said.

"I know Hungarian basketball well. It relies on a very strong backcourt and good exterior shooting.

"The Croatians will depend on the team they bring but one knows that it´s very difficult to impose your game over there.

"The Slovak Republic is a little bit of the unknown team. It has faced some difficulties recently, but they have a strong  basketball tradition with young talented players.

"Lastly, Romania is a basketball team that I know less well and they seem to be a more accessible team but we cannot trust them."

France Basketball Federation president Yvan Mainini watched the women's team fall short of their target last year which was, at bare minimum, to reach the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

After the draw, Mainini, who was in Venice, said: "With regards to the women´s team, the draw seems more favourable (than the men's) but we are well aware that these qualifying games are challenging.

"We will need all the experience of Pierre Vincent and his players to obtain a ticket to Latvia 2009."