France Crushed by Spain in U18 Women's Euro Final

Spain secured their 7th gold medal in this category, a remarkable achievement only surpassed by the former USSR with 17 titles.

In a performance rarely seen from a modern French national team, they were decisively defeated by Spain. The Spanish team showcased exceptional collective basketball, demonstrating perfect passing, accurate shooting, and strong defensive energy.

A telling statistic highlights France's offensive struggles: Thelma Leray, Cameron Kolissoko, Emma Broliron, Ange Thermoz-Lorcière, and Neyvaeh Marcin missed a combined total of 24 shots. Only Camille Sevaux (11 points, 7 rebounds, 15 efficiency rating) managed to perform well.

Suffocated by Spain's defense from the outset, France committed turnovers and forced shots, only scoring their first points after almost four and a half minutes, trailing 0-9. This respite was short-lived, as a decisive 0-13 run by Spain left them with a 17-point deficit (7-24) by the end of the first quarter.

Spain's defense proved to be an impenetrable wall against most of France's offensive attempts. Fortunately, Camille Sevaux (9 points, half of her team's total) provided some relief. The French team managed to narrow the gap to 12 points (22-34) at one point, but another surge from Spain extended their lead significantly by halftime: 24-49.

The French players appeared dazed, and the Spanish team capitalized on their advantage. The scoreline at halftime, with Spain having double the points of France (32-69), underscored the dominance. The game felt protracted, marked by dribbling errors, shot clock violations, and airballs. France trailed by 40 points (35-75) with just over eight minutes remaining and ultimately lost by thirty-six points at the buzzer. It was a difficult outcome for the French team.

In the bronze medal match, Finland defeated Serbia 75-62.