France vs Spain: Road to the Final | Rugby World Cup 2023

As we find ourselves. United by the desire to finally get a new European title, the French female basketball team will first have to dismiss the Spanish from its path, a team that the Bleues know well, Friday (4:30 p.m.) in Piraeus.

Tuesday, after the clear victory against Lithuania (83-61) in the quarter-final, the interior Iliana Rupert had seemed surprised when it was reminded that France was going to play its ninth semi-final in the continental competition. “”New, yes, that’s a lot“, She had launched before quickly chaining:”It’s just a step towards the final lens.»

The final objective, which has never been hidden, is the title that the Bleues have not won since Euro 2009, despite the number of unsuccessful attempts and seven podiums of row. “”It is an opportunity to do something big“Commented with calm Jean-Aimé Toupane after Thursday’s training. “”We are animated by the mind to do well and we don’t want it to stop.»

“No revenge” against La Roja

So euphoria, there was not after qualification for the last square. “”We haven’t won anything yet, we can’t celebrate, not yet“, Supported Marième Badiane. And for this, the teammates of Captain Valérian Ayayi will first have to succeed where they failed two years ago during the Euro in Slovenia, when they had been eliminated in the semi-finals by the Belgium of Emma Meesseman (67-63). “”We moved on to something else, it was against another team, so there is not even the revenge aspect“Recalls Iliana Rupert.

No revenge, no, but a well -known opponent: the Blue has met Spain twelve times in official competition, and the results are unbalanced since they have eight defeats for four successes. La Roja had become used to making its neighbors its scaller in the European Championship: out of its four European titles gleaned (1993, 2013, 2017, 2019), all were in the final at the expense of France.

“We know it’s a classic”

In 2019, Ayayi, Rupert and Badiane were already on the prosecution. The French have won the following confrontation, the last to date. It was at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The Blue, on the road to their silver medal, had won 67-64. “”There is a moment, France-Spain, it was really something, we all played these matches in young people, we felt this animosityRemember Valérian Ayayi. But, she adds, “It has been a long time since we have played them, the players have changed, the mentalities too. We know that it is a classic (…) But it doesn’t matter who we have in front, we know where we want to go.»

«We have played so many times against each other, we know that France achieves a very good euro, they have a lot of potential but everything can happen“Repeats the experienced Alba Torrens, present during the Spanish titles in 2013 and 2017.”This rivalry made us better, we both teamsShe adds. “”It was positive for female basketball and it has always represented good matches to play.»

Although still led by the unavoidable 35 -year -old wing, the Spanish selection – which had to face several injured – has also evolved from the Paris -2024 Olympic Games (5th place), with a new generation. Only five players of the twelve who were present last summer in Paris played the Euro in Greece. “”It’s a team that has nothing to lose, warns Iliana Rupert, A strong nation in basketball. So we have to stay serious (and go) the knife between the teeth.»