Host Spain Loses to France, Out of World Cup

Spain was targeting another classico with Team USA.

Instead, they will have to settle for classification.

In one of FIBA’s bigger upsets in recent memory, host Spain lost to France, 65-52, in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Wednesday.

The Spaniards came into this World Cup looking to avenge narrow losses to the United States in the final of the 2008 Olympics and the 2012 Olympics. They believed they had the personnel to match up with the Americans – especially after Team USA had a handful of superstar dropouts – and had the added advantage of playing every game at home.

Spain roared through the group stage undefeated and trounced Senegal, 89-56, in their round of 16 game. 

Meanwhile, Team USA was struggling in spots, dealing with offensive and defensive breakdowns in wins over Turkey and Ukraine. Even after Tuesday’s 119-76 trouncing of Slovenia, the Americans still didn’t have the respect of the tournament as Slovenian guard Goran Dragic pronounced Spain the favorite.

Not anymore.

Jazz backup center Rudy Gobert neutralized Spain’s imposing front line with his length and activity and guard Thomas Huertel made some huge shots down the stretch as France ended the game on a 10-0 run.

Spain trailed, 35-28, at halftime but was fired up coming out of the locker room. They held France to seven points in the third quarter and took a 43-42 lead into the final period. But after Magic guard Evan Fournier’s layup gave France a 46-45 lead, Spain never led again.

Pau Gasol scored 17 points and Juan Carlos Navarro added 10 for Spain, which shot 2-of-22 from the arc. Marc Gasol had three points on 1-of-7 shooting. Serge Ibaka had two, also shooting 1-of-7. Ricky Rubio had four. Sergio Rodriguez took the donut.

Boris Diaw scored 15 points and Huertel added 13 for France, which outrebounded Spain, 50-28. Gobert had 13 rebounds and Jeffrey Lauvergne grabbed 10.

France now plays Serbia in the semifinals. There should be a considerable secondary market for tickets.