Forget the two slaps received last year during the Olympic Games (70-74 in the group stage, and especially 71-87 in the semi-finals). This Monday in Sydney, the French women’s basketball team did not hesitate to beat the Japanese selection with authority (67-53). This convincing success officially opens the doors to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for Les Bleues.
Still beaten eight days earlier by Japan in a warm-up match (59-69), Jean-Aimé Toupane’s players finally knew how to get the best of their pet peeve, thanks to a well-balanced mark, between Gabby Williams (16 points ), Iliana Rupert (15 points and 12 rebounds), the surprising Migna Touré (13 points), called up at the last minute to replace Marine Johannes, injured, and Marine Fauthoux (10 points and 6 assists).
Even before its last pool match, Tuesday against Serbia, the France team is therefore guaranteed to play in the quarter-finals. As much to tell you that it is necessary at all costs to avoid finishing in fourth place, synonymous with a last stand announced against the American ogre, who has just passed… 145 pawns to South Korea on Monday.