Dominator against Lithuania (83-61), Tuesday June 24 in Piraeus, in Athens, the French team won its ticket for the semi-finals of the Women’s Women’s Euro Basketball. This fourth success of row allows the Bleues to continue their flawlessness in the competition.
The Olympic vice-champions will face the winner of the quarter-final between Spain, quadruple European champion, and the Czech Republic, which is held on Wednesday at 4.30 p.m. before, potentially, to find Belgium, title holder, in the final on Sunday. After facing the semi-finals of Euro 2023 (Belgium victory 67-63) then in the semi-finals of the Paris Olympic Games (Victory of France 81-75), the two selections are the main candidates for continental gold.
Carried by an exceptional first quarter-21 points registered in ten minutes (35-14) and a formidable address with three points (9/11)-The Bleues demonstrated, in this semi-final against Lithuania, their collective fluidity. The success of the day was notably built thanks to the contribution of Iliana Rupert, 23 years old (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), formidable at long distance (3/3). The wing of the çBK Mersin was able to count on the support of the best marker of the French team, Janelle Salaün (10 points against Lithuania, 72 in total on the competition), and on Captain Valeriane Ayayi (11 points, 2 rebounds).
“We were good, we want to be even better”
Their success grips the absence of Gabby Williams and Marine Johannès, retained in WNBA. The North American League imposes strict conditions of presence on the players under contract according to their seniority, and the deductibles are more or less flexible to release them at international windows, which overlap the season across the Atlantic.
Despite the absence of his headliners and the Marine Faith Package, injured in the knee, France can count on the depth of its bench. Released in first position of the qualifications, after having difficult to enter the competition against Turkey (69-71), the Bleues validated their place in the quarterfinals from their second outing, against Greece (92-56). They then inflicted a heavy defeat in Switzerland (111-37) on Saturday.
For the first cleaner match of the competition, the Olympic vice-championes made the difference quickly, benefiting from a comfortable margin at the break (56-31). “A quarter -final is“ do or die ”. We were good, we want to be even better ”warned the wing Janelle Salaün.
Since 2007, and early elimination against Latvia, France has not lacked the last square in nine consecutive European championships. A presence in the semi-finals, followed by as many medals (five in silver, two in bronze) for a single victory, in 2009. A false note that the players of Frédéric Faux intend to make you forget.
