Bronzed in Tokyo in 2021, the French basketball team wants to do better for the Games at home. To do this, they must pass the semi-finals against Belgium, Friday, August 9 at 9 p.m. at the Arena Bercy. After a well-controlled match against Germany, Iliana Rupert’s teammates will have to raise their level again to defeat the Belgians, reigning European champions, who beat them in the semi-finals of EuroBasket in 2023.
A well-oiled French collective. Under the direction of coach Jean-Aimé Toupane, for their first Games, the Bleues won over the French fans. In the group stage in Villeneuve-d’Ascq (North), then in the quarter-finals against Germany in Paris, the French women showed excellent defensive qualities, while maintaining their offensive creativity around Marine Johannès, who was huge in the last match, and Gaby Williams. In the quarter-finals against the Germans, the French team put in a benchmark performance. They will have to draw inspiration from this against an even stronger opponent.
Belgium, the team in form. If Belgium had never been a great women’s basketball nation, this has not been the case for a few years now. The Belgian Cats, as they are nicknamed, have been putting in a series of great performances. In 2021, they played in their first Olympic Games and won the bronze medal at EuroBasket. With Frenchman Rachid Meziane as coach since 2022, the Belgians are among the greatest nations in the world. A year ago, they won their first title by winning the European Championship, eliminating the French in the semi-finals.
Do better than Tokyo. Eliminated at this stage of the competition in Tokyo three years ago, the Bleues are looking to take their revenge. In 2023, the French faced the Japanese for a place in the final. At home, the French players will not be able to afford the same mistakes if they want to reach the final, Sunday August 11 at 3:30 p.m.