Aug 16, 06:11 PM

France Beats Spain 78-73 at Bercy as Sylvain Francisco Shines, Poirier Injured, Batum Retires

The French national basketball team secured a 78-73 victory over Spain at Bercy, overcoming a challenging first half dominated by the Spanish side. Key contributions from Sylvain Francisco and Bilal Coulibaly helped France reverse the game against their traditional rivals. Spain, despite showing strong performance, left the match without a win and with two additional injured players. Meanwhile, the French team faces several setbacks ahead of the EuroBasket tournament, with Vincent Poirier ruled out due to a knee injury. The French roster also contends with the absence of notable players including Victor Wembanyama, Mathias Lessort, Rudy Gobert, and Evan Fournier. Additionally, Nicolas Batum, the French captain with 177 caps and seven international medals, announced his retirement from the national team, concluding a 20-year career highlighted by an Olympic final against the USA in Paris.