The French teams have kicked off their 3×3 World Cup campaign with promising results, putting them in a strong position to advance to the next round. Both the men’s and women’s squads delivered commendable performances on the opening day of the tournament.
Women’s Team: A Tale of Two Halves
The women’s team experienced a challenging start to their campaign. Facing Japan, they struggled to find their offensive rhythm, making only 9 out of 25 shots. Despite the efforts of Laëtitia Guapo, who returned to official competition, her teammates were unable to secure the win, trailing 13-16.
However, the team quickly regrouped. A few hours later, they bounced back with a dominant performance against Lithuania, winning 21-12. Despite some foul trouble, Marie Mané was instrumental in the victory, sinking four three-pointers and scoring 10 of France’s 21 points.
Men’s Team: Clutch Performances
The men’s team also faced a tough opening day. Their first match against Belgium was a nail-biting encounter. The game was ultimately decided by a stunning three-pointer from Hugo Suhard with just five seconds left on the clock, securing a 21-20 victory after trailing by one point.
In their second game against Puerto Rico, who had previously defeated Brazil, the French men had to dig deep once again. The match was characterized by intense physical play. The French team managed to draw fouls and secure crucial calls, notably through Jules Rambaut, who extended the lead a minute before the end. Neither team scored further in the closing moments, resulting in an 18-16 win for France.
Both the French men’s and women’s teams will have a rest day on Wednesday before resuming play on Thursday. The women’s team will face Ukraine and Canada, while the men’s team will compete against Brazil and Lithuania. Broadcast details for these matches have been provided.
