Les Bleues qualify for their first world basketball final

The Blues continue to write their history. The France team qualified for the first world final in its history by winning its semi-final of the Basketball World Cup against Germany (86-64), at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Saturday September 12.

Facing the host country, surprise guest of the last four and loudly supported by the 14,000 spectators, Jean-Aimé Toupane's players assumed their status as favorites and delivered a very serious performance to achieve one of the greatest successes of their career.

In the most balanced match and facing the toughest opposition since the start of the competition, the Blues were able to maintain their control and solidity. In the lead for more than thirty-nine minutes, they kept control of the match and got the better of their opponents, looking for a new feat after having eliminated the Belgian European champions in the previous round.

“The objective has been achieved”

After a tight first quarter, they took off on the scoreboard around the break. Leading by seven points at half-time, they reached the symbolic milestone of ten points ahead after a strong start to the third quarter.

Physically dominant and better in place in the final minutes, like Marine Johannès who found her three-point magic, the French finished with 86 points and +22 ahead on the clock, for an indisputable success. “The objective has been achieved, we are all happy. Now, we will all rest for tomorrow, because we all want to go further,” greeted coach Jean-Aimé Toupane at the microphone of BeIn Sports.

Gabby Williams MVP of the day

As since the start of the competition, the omnipresent captain Gabby Williams led the way. The Golden States Valkyries player, top French scorer in the tournament, once again dominated the scoreboard, with 22 points scored and a good statistical line (22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists).

Enough to win the title of MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the match, and to release a few tears at the final whistle, in the heart of a rather contained joy in the tricolor clan. “I am very proud, very proud of our efforts, of how we got there,” she said.

The French women, already qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history, will have the opportunity to dream bigger by playing their first final, Sunday, against the United States, winners of Spain (76-66). They are already assured of getting on the podium and bringing home a medal, the first in 73 years and the bronze from 1953 for the first edition of the competition.