2012 FIBA Europe
U18 European Championship
France - Hey Soul Sister

France are ready to play in the FIBA Europe U18 European Championship quarter-final against Croatia with the prize for the winner a place in the 2013 World Championship U19.

The pictures above shows how hard this competition really is for France and the pressure the players are under as they attempt to qualify for their third consecutive World Championship

In 2010 France alongside, Russia Slovenia and Spain were the big winners of the quarter-final and in 2008 France passed the quarter-final stage but finished without a medal.

In qualifying for the quarter-finals France have looked strong in all departments: Olivia Epoupa has been lightening quick while dishing out a tournament-best 4.5 assists per game. while Marieme Badiane has been very aggressive around the boards averaging 10 rebounds per match.

With the Olympic Games Basketball Tournament going on at the same time all the quarter-final matches of this U18 Division A championship are likely not to receive as much media coverage as in previous years. Nonetheless there will be a lot of suspense considering what is at stake.

The French roster for this championships is made up of the following players: Elise Fagnez, Marième Badiane Lidija Turcinovic, Olivia Epoupa, Mamignan Touré, Pauline Lithard, Fleur Devillers, Valeriane Ayayi, Mousdandy Djaldi-Tabdi, Marie Mané, Aby Gaye, and Awa Sissoko.

2 qualifications probables pour les Bleues:

L'effectif des moins 18 prend leur championnat aussi sérieux que les seniors aux Jeux Olympiques de Londres ce qui se voit d'ailleurs sur les images en haut du page.

Les joueuses ne jouent pas seulement pour une place sur le podium des moins 18, mais aussi pour une des cinq places disponibles pour participer au Championnat du monde U19 en 2013.