Mission accomplished for the Blues.
The French have mathematically validated their ticket for the quarter-finals of the World Cup by winning (67-53) Monday against Japan in Sidney.
After the United States, Canada and Belgium, France thus becomes the 4th nation to win the right to participate in the knockout matches of this Australian World Cup.
Jean-Aimé Toupane's players started their meeting perfectly against the Japanese, who had beaten them twice at the Tokyo Olympics a year ago.
But after a controlled first quarter (16-5), the bronze medalists of the last Olympics relaxed and entered the final quarter with only a four-point lead.
The French then gave a last boost to win with 14 units in advance, thanks in particular to Gabby Williams (16 points), Iliana Rupert (15 points), or Mamignan Touré (13 points).
Avoid the United States in quarter
Les Bleues only have one final match to play against Serbia on Tuesday (9:30 a.m.), but the meeting will not be without stakes.
The French must win to finish in one of the first two places in the group and avoid a confrontation with the formidable Americans.
The latter, reigning world and Olympic champions, corrected South Korea earlier on Monday by scoring 145 points, a record for a World Cup match.
A more affordable opponent would increase Les Bleues' chances of breaking the glass ceiling in the quarter-finals.
Out at this level of the competition during all their participation in a World Cup since 2002, the French have not seen the last four of the competition since … 1953.
