French Basketball Team’s Shocking Elimination in World Cup Preliminary Round

The French basketball players were sensationally eliminated in the preliminary round at the World Cup in Asia.

The team around NBA center Rudy Gobert lost in Jakarta with 86:88 (53:49) against outsiders Latvia and after two defeats from two games already has to say goodbye to all title dreams. Before that, it had scored a hearty 65:95 against co-favorite Canada at the start of the World Cup. Canada with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as Latvia, which competes without its best professional Kristaps Porzingis, are already qualified for the intermediate round.

“They kicked our ass”

Winger Evan Fournier was already frustrated after the first defeat. “They kicked our ass,” he said of the 30-point swatter against Canada. The game against Latvia was considered a must-win, after all, France is second at the Olympics and European Championships. At the last two World Championships in Spain in 2014 and in China in 2019, there was also a bronze medal. Behind the USA, the French became the second-biggest title contender.

The early end is reminiscent of Germany four years ago. Dennis Schröder’s team lost the first game against a co-favorite (France) and then suffered a defeat against an outsider (Dominican Republic) that was hardly thought possible. In contrast to France, Germany has already secured the ticket for the second round after two wins this year.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:230827-99-980075/2

2023-08-27 21:56:26
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