2023-06-19 22:43:40
The French basketball players will face Montenegro in the quarter-finals of Euro-2023 on Thursday in Ljubljana, after the victory of the Montenegrins against Italy 63 to 49 Monday evening in Tel Aviv, in a play-off match. Undefeated in their three first-round matches against Germany (58-50), Great Britain (63-57) and Slovenia (73-68), Jean-Aimé Toupane’s players qualified directly for the quarter-finals. and benefit from three days without matches to recover.
The Montenegrins finished in second place in their group, corrected by Spain (78-57) but winners of Greece (74-69) and Latvia (61-58) in the decisive match on Sunday. The French women are aiming for a third continental title after 2001 and 2009, and above all want to put an end to the series of five consecutive finals lost (in 2013, 2017 and 2019 against Spain, in 2015 and in 2021 against Serbia).
Iliana Rupert uncertain
It remains to be seen whether Iliana Rupert will be there. Touched in the right shoulder on Sunday against Slovenia, the interior does not suffer from a major injury, the French Federation said on Monday, but its participation following Euro-2023 remains uncertain. She was injured on Sunday at the start of the evening, on a counter-attack in the middle of the second quarter during the third and last match, without stake, of the first round of Euro-2023 against Slovenia (victory 73 to 68 ).
The 21-year-old Frenchwoman, key player for Les Bleues, joined Ljubljana hospital for initial examinations on Sunday. “Iliana Rupert took additional exams on Monday in Ljubljana. These examinations did not reveal any major lesion, ”said the French Federation in a press release. Rupert will follow “daily care with the medical staff between now and the quarter-finals on Thursday. The question of his participation will be studied in the coming days, ”added the FFBB.
Rupert’s presence for the rest of the competition is therefore uncertain. “She is an important player in our team, she has versatility in the indoor or outdoor game. It is the soul of the team, it is one of the old despite its young age, with Marine Fauthoux “six months his senior, had reacted Sunday evening the French coach Jean-Aimé Toupane after the victory against Slovenia.
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