The French national basketball team made a huge upsets in the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup 2014 as they defeated world Number 2 ranked basketball team, Spain with the final score at 65-52. The visiting France basketball team, ranked No. 8 worldwide stunned the Spanish team and ended Spain’s dream of an anticipated title bout with World No. 1, United States (US) Men’s Basketball Team.
Watch the Highlights of France vs. Spain:
France led from start to finish despite the huge roar from the passionate home fans of the Spanish national basketball team, who defeated France earlier during the Group stage of the competition. Although France missed several players on its line up including the four-time NBA champion Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs.
With France win in the quarterfinals against Spain, the team will moved on to the semi-finals of the tournament featuring Serbia, United States and Lithuania as the top four teams in the FIBA World Cup of Basketball hosted by Spain.
France will meet in the first semi-finals match up in Madrid this coming Thursday, they will face and try to end the Cinderella-run of the Serbian national team, which also made a huge upsets against American powerhouse team, Brazil in the quarterfinals. Serbia reached the semi-finals as one of the underdogs as they previously defeated the world Number 5 ranked team Greece during the Round of 16.
The other semi-finalists, the United States of America will face Lithuania, the team the entered the semis by first defeating New Zealand in the Round of 16 and added with another win against Turkey in the Quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup.
During the semi-finals match of France and Spain, French forward Boris Diaw led the charge for France as he scored 15 points and 5 rebounds while Thomas Heurtel gave the much-needed support for the French side by scoring 13 points and dishing out four assists.
Los Angeles Lakers newest member Pau Gasol led Spain with 17 points and eight rebounds in Spain’s losing effort against France.