World Cup Qualifiers: France Secures Hard-Fought Victory Against Belgium
France, despite not always being at their best, secured a vital fourth victory in five matches during the first phase of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, defeating a determined Belgian side 80-72 in Antwerp. The French team, in their new iteration, never trailed but struggled to assert complete dominance against a Belgian squad hampered by numerous absences.
The win was largely built on France's physical advantage, evident in their 16 offensive rebounds and 31 free throws drawn. This dominance led to a controlled first half, with France leading 43-30. However, their poor three-point shooting (4 of 21) contributed to a dip in performance as Belgium, led by Manu Lecomte (17 points, 4 assists), Andy Van Vliet (14 points, 6 rebounds), and Aubin Gateretse (13 points), mounted a comeback.
France's faltering momentum was ultimately reversed by strong individual performances. Notable contributions came from Nadir Hifi (8 points on 3/7 shooting, 6 assists), Bilal Coulibaly (13 points), Jaylen Hoard (10 points, 4 rebounds), and Rudy Gobert (8 points, 11 rebounds). A standout debut performance came from Maxime Raynaud, who impressed with 10 points on 4/5 shooting and 4 rebounds in just 16 minutes. In contrast, Guerschon Yabusele had a subdued game, scoring 0 points in 15 minutes with a -1 efficiency rating.
A Significant Lead, But...
Despite early struggles from beyond the arc, France's starting lineup, featuring Strazel, Coulibaly, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Yabusele, and Gobert, imposed their physical superiority on a quick-starting Belgian team. The impactful introductions of Zaccharie Risacher and Elie Okobo towards the end of the first quarter, along with Maxime Raynaud's immediate scoring contribution, prompted a Belgian timeout.
This timeout seemed to re-energize the Belgian Lions, with Andy Van Vliet leading a resurgence and narrowing the gap. However, the return of France's starters, including Thabo Luwawu-Cabarrot and new captain Rudy Gobert, who made a crucial block at the buzzer, helped France maintain a 13-point lead at halftime (43-30).
Belgium Fights Back
Facing a significant deficit, the Belgian team, inspired by Manu Lecomte, staged a determined comeback, going on a 13-2 run to bring the score to 45-43 in the 25th minute. Despite opportunities to tie or take the lead, Belgium couldn't capitalize, and France regained control, with Nadir Hifi's sharp play in the late third quarter restoring a 59-55 advantage.
France found its composure in the final stretch, with Maxime Raynaud's developing floater and the active play of Bilal Coulibaly and Jaylen Hoard extending the lead to 68-58 by the 34th minute. The starting five ultimately closed out the game without further scares.
France has an opportunity to seize the top spot in the group from Finland when they play on Monday in Pau, with the added aim of displaying a more dominant performance. Meanwhile, Belgium's hopes for the 2027 World Cup have been extinguished after this fifth consecutive loss, with their final group match against Hungary now serving as a formality.
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