Its dissolution Soviet Union and his Yugoslavia in the early 1990s it meant the finishin sports terms, of the biggest and greatest rivalry in European basketball of the 20th century. Two superpowers capable of creating the greatest number of legends and stars who tournament after tournament battled to win the gold medal. The disappearance of these socialist states opened a relatively long period in which no country was able to achieve hegemony in European basketball. Until Spain and France arrived.
Guided by two generations of unique talents and managed, respectively, by Pau Gasol and Tony Parkerthese two countries, separated by the Pyrenees, have built one of the most real and tangible rivalries in the FIBA ecosystem.
For the eighth time, Spain and France will face each other in a final match. In the game, the EuroBasket 2022 gold medal.
Spain vs. fixtures, results and balance France in Eurobasket
Due to different format changes in the EuroBasket definition, the first time Spain and France met in a qualifying match was the 1991. A first duel that would be notable as it was the first European tournament medal for Spain since 1983 thanks to 26 points from Antonio Martin Espina.
For the next one we had to wait until the end of the millennium, already with Alberto Herreros or Carlos Jiménez in the team, defeating the Gauls with 29 goals from the Madrid forward to reach the final in 1999. This EuroBasket silver medal played in France started an unbeaten run in which the Selection achieved 10 out of 11 possible medals. Exactly, that one metal that the Spanish team could not get was thanks to a French victory in 2005 with 25 points from Tony Parker. A last-second semi-final loss to Germany left a Spain without fuel or motivation, struggling despite the absence of Pau Gasol.
The following two meetings between Spain and France would have the same result: victory of the Iberians in 2009 and 2011. The last in the final for gold where Juan Carlos Navarro led with 27 points. However, in 2013 the Spanish team would be outclassed by their trans-Pyrenean rivals in a tournament where Pau and Navarro were not present. And that duel was decided in the final moments of overtime and with a missed three-pointer by Marc Gasol.
Even so, Spain’s revenge would not be long in coming, as the next EuroBasket, held in LilSergio Scariolo’s men shut out the hosts in one of the most memorable FIBA games of the 21st century. 40 points from Pau Gasol dictated a bid to propel the Nationals to new gold.
History and results of Spain against France in Eurobasket
These are the results of the qualifying rounds between Spain and France in EuroBasket:
| Year | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | third and fourth place | Spain 101-83 France |
| 1999 | semi-finals | Spain 70-63 France |
| 2005 | third and fourth place | France 98-68 Spain |
| 2009 | Quarterfinals | Spain 86-66 France |
| 2011 | Final | Spain 98-85 France |
| 2013 | semi-finals | France 75-73 Spain |
| 2015 | semi-finals | Spain 80-75 France |
When was the last time Spain and France played in Eurobasket?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIubkw2O69I
The last time that Spain and France faces were seen in one of his games Eurobasket It was nothing short of 2015 Semi-Finals. A tournament held in the French city of Lille that hosted one of the most memorable matches in the recent history of Spanish basketball.
With 40 points and 11 rebounds, Pau Gasol led Sergio Scariolo’s team to 80-7 overtime win5. A victory remembered for its epicness and the meaning it had in eliminating the home team.
