Les Bleues avoid the worst.
The French women's team will face China in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Thursday, according to the draw made on Tuesday in which it avoided the United States, three-time defending champions.
Les Bleues had been beaten by the Chinese (103-70) during the qualifying tournament for the World Cup in February in Belgrade.
The quarter-final is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m.
Read alsoMondial de Basket (F): Beaten by Serbia, the Blues risk finding the United States in the quarter
If they avoided the Americans, they come across an opponent who has impressed since the start of the competition, only beaten by the United States (77-63) and who averaged 88.8 points and conceded 57, 4 per game.
China plays good basketball
Sarah Michel, captain of the Blues
“
China remains a challenge.
Even if one can think that it is better China than the United States.
It's going to be complicated
”reacted to the press the French coach, Jean-Aimé Toupane.
“
It's a real opportunity.
We have a chance (of winning), however small it may be, we will play it hard.
Do not tell yourself that it is lost in advance
,” he added.
Captain Sarah Michel stressed for her part, before the draw, that “
China plays basketball well and quickly, it's hard.
“
We beat them in preparation, they lacked people but so did we
,” she recalled.
If they qualify on Thursday, Les Bleues will face the winner of Belgium-Australia in the semi-finals.
In the other part of the table, the United States will challenge Serbia and Canada will be opposed to Puerto Rico.
Les Bleues could have faced a more affordable opponent than China, either Belgium or Puerto Rico, if they had beaten Serbia on Tuesday (68-62 defeat).
They would then have been seeded.