San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker has firmly declared that he will be with France next summer when they compete in the Additional Qualifying Round for EuroBasket 2009.

Parker and France narrowly missed out on a direct qualifying place for next year's Final Round after finishing as the fourth best second-place team in Division A.

Turkey, who went undefeated and won Group C ahead of France (3-3), along with Great Britain, Serbia and FYR of Macedonia won their respective pools while Latvia, Israel and Bulgaria all came in second and beat Parker and Co to qualification.

When asked if he would play next summer, Parker said: "I don't even have to answer that question - I will be there, I am going to carry on. We must stay positive."

Parker was nearly unstoppable on offense in the qualifying campaign and signed off with 37 points in his team's 80-78 home defeat to Turkey on Saturday.

Had France been able to win that game,  they would have clinched a place in Poland with a 4-2 record. As it was, their goal efficient was inferior to that of Israel and Bulgaria - the other second-place teams to finish with 3-3 records.

France coach Michel Gomez has tried to take the pressure off his players.

"If it is necessary to give me the axe, that's not a problem," he said.

"I assume the responsibility.

"The guys gave everything. That is sport, that is basketball.

"We just have to continue working hard and not believe we are the best."

Next summer, France will compete against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Portugal, Finland and Belgium for one EuroBasket 2009 spot that is still up for grabs.

The draw for the order of the games of the Additional Qualifying Round will take place in Warsaw, Poland on November 8.