Jakarta, Indonesia – Canada stunned France with a resounding 95-65 victory in their opening match of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on Friday.
The game was held at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia, and was attended by a crowd of 12,091 fans.
Canada was led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a game-high 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. Gilgeous-Alexander was named the TCL Player of the Game.
Evan Fournier led France with 21 points, but the team struggled to keep up with Canada’s pace and intensity.
Canada’s defense was also a key factor in the victory, holding France to just 25 points in the second half.
The win was a major statement from Canada, who are now considered one of the favorites to win the tournament.
Canada will next face Lebanon on August 27.
Quotes from the players and coaches
- Vincent Collet, France head coach: “We are disappointed with our performance today. We didn’t play with the energy and intensity that we needed to win. Canada was the better team today.”
- Evan Fournier, France guard: “Canada was physical and put a lot of pressure on us. We didn’t handle it well. We need to regroup and come out with a better effort in our next game.”
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada guard: “We played with a lot of energy and determination today. We knew that France was a good team, but we were confident that we could beat them. We’re excited to get the win and start our tournament on the right foot.”
The Aftermath
Canada’s victory over France was a major upset, and it has put the team in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament.
France, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid an early exit.
The tournament is still in its early stages, but Canada has certainly made a statement with their opening win. They will be a team to watch in the coming weeks.
