ZADAR (Croatia) - France has once again stamped its mark as a basketball powerhouse, securing qualification for FIBA EuroBasket 2025 and extending its impressive streak to 23 consecutive tournament appearances.
They maintained their perfect record with a solid win over Croatia in a crazy atmosphere, played in front of the packed stands of the old Jazine arena in downtown Zadar.
A testament to their consistency and rich basketball heritage, the French team continues to be a mainstay on the continental stage, blending tradition with the emergence of new talent to remain among Europe's elite.
France dominated the group that also includes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Croatia, but even at 4-0, they weren't safe ahead of the February 2025 window. However, coach Frederic Fauthoux saw his men rise to the occasion and clinch a ticket with a game in hand.
How they qualified
Gameday 1: FRA 73-61 CRO Gameday 2: BIH 64-74 FRA Gameday 3: CYP 59-75 FRA Gameday 4: FRA 85-70 CYP Gameday 5: CRO 80-83 FRA
Remaining fixtures
Gameday 6: FRA vs BIH
Qualifiers heroes
France went through a coaching change during the Qualifiers, as Vincent Collet managed the first two games, while Frederic Fauthoux took over after the 2024 Paris Olympics. There were numerous changes in the roster, too, as France keep on introducing new talent with each new national team adventure.
With all the youngsters in there, some much needed experience was provided by Andrew Albicy and Paul Lacombe, the latter missing just the last game in Croatia. For Albicy, clinching a EuroBasket ticket in Zadar meant going full circle, as he won the FIBA U20 EuroBasket there in 2010, as the tournament MVP, too.
The latest window saw a return of a number of Olympic medalists from 2024, while Theo Maledon got a chance as the starting point guard, proving the pool of talent is endless in the country.
When you add all the biggest stars in August and September, consider France hot favorites to reach the podium again.
History
France have now made it to 40 FIBA EuroBasket Final Rounds, missing out on the main event just twice, back in 1969 and 1975, and they saw all three steps of the podium.
They won the title back in 2013, as Tony Parker and Boris Diaw led the generation to the championship in an event played in Slovenia. France are the reigning silver-medalists, finishing as runners-up in Germany in 2022, along with another two silver medals from 2011 and 1949.
Third place was theirs on six different occasions, in 1937, 1951, 1953, 1959, and then again in 2005 and 2015.
Champions: 2013 Runners-up: 2011, 2022 Third Place: 1937, 1951, 1953, 1959, 2005, 2015
Tickets
FIBA