The French women’s basketball team still needs a victory to validate its ticket for the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/03/only-ukraine-competes-with-latvia-for-the-final-stage-of-the-2025-european-basketball-championship-the-news/" title="Only Ukraine competes with Latvia for the final stage of the 2025 European Basketball Championship | The news”>2025 European Championship which will take place in the Czech Republic, Germany and Greece from June 18 to 29. The qualification will perhaps not be official at the end of this weekend because it will also be necessary, according to Fiba calculations, to validate the result of the duel between Ireland and Israel.
But all this is just a formality: qualification is beyond doubt for a French team which will even be the number 1 favorite for the Euro. A year after the silver medal at the Games, this tournament is already awaited as confirmation of the method of coach Jean-Aimé Toupane renewed for the next 4 years. France has not won the Euro for 14 years and remains on a series of lost finals, often against Spain, impressive (5).
Three days after a big victory against Israel in Caen (94-52) after a match that was too easy, the Blues meet this Sunday (6:10 p.m., l’Équipe channel) in Riga to face Latvia. It is the opponent of the group which also includes Ireland and therefore Israel, the most complicated for Gabby Williams‘ gang.
Score of the first leg: 71-49 for the French
“A very skillful team where the threat can come from anywhere,” thinks the coach. If we are to believe the score of the first leg, a year ago, there is nothing to scare the blue house which won the first round 71-49 in Poitiers. Certainly, the Blue must still evolve without Carla Leite, Iliana Rupert or Marine Johannes still injured. But that shouldn’t be a problem especially since Dominique Malonga, spared Thursday evening in Normandy, must be back to perhaps plant a new dunk against the Latvians. On Thursday, all twelve players on the scoresheet scored. One of the challenges to take on this Sunday to spice up the evening.
