Rachid Meziane after the draw: ''We are in the Group of Death''

PARIS (France) - Belgium coach Rachid Meziane is ready for the ultimate test as he gets the Cats ready for what he has labelled the 'Group of Death' at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024.

Pitched against USA, Japan and Germany in Group C during Tuesday night's prestigious draw at the FIBA House of Basketball in Mies, Belgium are destined to feature in two of the five best games to watch during the Group phase.

"We have a fairly complicated draw and I had anticipated that the pool with Germany as pot 4 was going to be the Group of Death and we can say that this is the case," Meziane told RTBF.

"A MEDAL IS LEGITIMATE EVEN IF WE WILL HAVE TO PLAY OUR BEST BASKETBALL." - Rachid Meziane

"All we can do is imagine a very strong American team. We could compete for second place with Japan, but we must not forget Germany, which is a nation that is emerging very strong and it's qualification is proof of this.

"We will have to be very vigilant without neglecting our ability to beat the United States, since we showed in Antwerp that we are capable of it. We will have to capitalize on all our possible opportunities for a Quarter-Final and if we do qualify, we are sure to avoid them [USA] and as we know that the Americans rarely miss meetings like that, it’s definitely something positive."

As well as that outstanding thriller against USA in Antwerp back in February when the Cats were denied 81-79 at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, there is also major history with Japan too. In one of the most heartbreaking moments of their history, Belgium lost in the Quarter-Finals of Tokyo 2020 to the host nation 86-85.

However, Meziane is not getting hung up on the concept of this now being a revenge mission. 

He stressed: "I don't think it's a feeling that allows you to win matches. I prefer to talk about ambitions. I think the match against Japan in Tokyo is far away, knowing that the squads have moved well on both sides.

"We will remember it to learn the right lessons and know how to win these matches - rather than losing them. Our objectives remain the same as before the draw.

"By participating in this type of competition, we want to leave with a medal around our necks. With a lot of humility and by taking the matches one after the other, the team will be able to achieve the best possible result. A medal is legitimate even if we will have to play our best basketball because we will be up against the best teams in the world," concluded Meziane. 

Meanwhile the French coach has already spoken of his excitement at attending the Games, since he is currently coaching Villeneuve d'Ascq LM which is in close proximity to the first phase games in Lille.

But before Meziane can focus too strongly on Olympics action, he is set to lead out his club team for what will be their historic first ever EuroLeague Women Final Four. 

FIBA