Les Bleues will be keen to take their revenge from the Euro-2021 final (63-54) and win one of the first two places in their group in order to be sure to avoid the American ogre in the quarters. of final.

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A place to secure

To avoid possible team calculations, the International Federation (Fiba) has indeed decided to draw lots for the quarter-finals, for which the first two teams from each of the two pools will be seeded.

The United States being sure to finish at the top of Pool A, the Blues (three wins) have every interest in finishing in one of the first two places in their Group B.

They will have to beat the Serbs for this: in the event of a three-way tie with Australia and Canada (the three selections have three victories), they will be ahead with a particular difference.

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In the event of a setback, however, they should no doubt say goodbye to the seeded status, since Canada (Mali) and Australia (Japan) face teams that have already been eliminated.

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"For Personal Pride"

After defeating the Japanese sign in the Olympic semi-final in Tokyo a little over a year ago (87-71 after a group loss 74-70), France finds another of its recent executioners.

"Personal pride" will be at stake on Tuesday, as leader Marine Fauthoux puts it, against Serbia's Marina Maljkovic, the daughter of 1993 European champion on the Limoges bench, Bozidar Maljkovic.

A team that is already qualified, which "rigs" according to captain Sarah Michel: "It's going to be a (...) fight, we will have to be calm. When we play against them, that's what we're lacking."

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"When we know the France-Serbia rivalry, it will go very hard, hit from the start (...) We want to win everything", launches Fauthoux.

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A "full match" to reproduce

Les Bleues most likely signed their best match against Japan since the arrival of Jean-Aimé Toupane on the bench in the fall of 2021.

They have on the one hand settled their deficit, chronic since the start of the World Cup, on the rebound (40 taken to 36 on Monday).

"We wanted a match where we were able to lock" this sector, explains interior Iliana Rupert.

"We play a sport of possession, so when one shot out of two you give the opponent the opportunity to take the ball back, you spend your time defending. Today we were much more offensive", underlines his side Toupane.

The coach also appreciated the better circulation of the ball and the indoor-outdoor alternation offered by his team.

"When you play against big teams, if you can't play in first intention on the counter-attack, you have to be patient, alternate, transfer the ball. It also allows the opponent to work", develops- he.

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Williams less alone

If Iliana Rupert confirms her rise to power over the past two games against the Serbs, then Les Bleues will increase their chances of victory: the interior, who only arrived last Wednesday after being crowned WNBA champion, delivered a solid performance against Japan (fifteen points and twelve rebounds).

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"It feels good to find yourself in your abilities. I'm coming back little by little," she says.

Fauthoux, her great friend, was "not worried about her", "we had to give her some time, not put pressure on her. What the staff did".

The connection between the two young wolves (21 years old) of the France team was obvious, with an equally precious Fauthoux (10 pts, 8 assists, 2 interceptions), like the back Migna Touré (13 pts), recalled after Marine Johannès' package just before the start of the competition.

Winger Gabby Williams (16 pts) was thus supported more than in previous matches.

"Gabby remains an important player in the system, it's interesting for us that there are one, two or three others emerging," admits Toupane.

© 2022 AFP