No one is happier than coach Michel Gomez that NBA star Tony Parker is back with the national team as they attempt to qualify for EuroBasket 2009.

The San Antonio Spurs point guard had been expected to skip this summer's qualifying campaign but with France struggling, Parker joined the team late in their preparations and in his first game back with Les Bleus, a 90-69 friendly win over Georgia in Riga, Latvia, Parker scored 12 points and handed out five assists in 18 impressive minutes.

"I want the France team to be a force again and Tony can be the release mechanism," Gomez said, who stressed that Parker was equally important to the national side when the other team has the ball.

"He demonstrated his defensive qualities during his spell on court against the Georgian point guard.

"He still has work to do, but that is going to come with games.

"He brings something to the attack. When you see 16 assists overall, it shows there is more creativity there."

France, who are in EuroBasket Division A, Group C with Belgium, Ukraine and Turkey, lost friendlies to Israel, Poland, Italy (two defeats) and Finland to start the summer but bounced back with triumphs over the Czech Republic and Latvia at the Strasbourg Tournament.

Parker's return has clearly boosted morale.

"It was our first game with a full team, with Tony involved again," forward Stephen Brun said.

"The arrival of Tony has given us confidence and everyone is feeding off him."