The French men's basketball team secured an important away victory in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, defeating Hungary 74:71. The match, played in Budapest, was another test for the French squad on their path to qualification. Despite the win, commentators note that the 'Tricolors' play is still not fluid and far from ideal. Guard Nadir Hifi played a key role in achieving this success. Fans could follow the match broadcast on television and online. The victory brings the French team closer to their goal of participating in the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.

World Cup 2027 Qualifying Match

In a group qualifying match for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, played on Thursday in Budapest, the French national team defeated Hungary 74:71. This was an important stage in the fight for a spot in the final tournament, which will be held in Qatar.

France's Mistakes and Poor Play

Despite the victory, the French media assess their team's performance as far from satisfactory. They highlight numerous mistakes, imprecise play, and the fact that the team "saved their skin" (Fr. "sauvent la mise") in a difficult away match, rather than convincingly dominating the opponent.

Key Role of Nadir Hifi

France's victory is largely due to the excellent performance of guard Nadir Hifi. His decisive shots and good game management in the final moments of the match allowed the 'Tricolors' to escape the "Hungarian trap" (Fr. "piège hongrois"), as reported by 'Le Figaro'.

TV and Online Broadcast

The qualifying match between Hungary and France was broadcast live by the French television channel L'Équipe. The station provided both television broadcast and online streaming on its website and app, allowing fans to follow the events.

The French men's basketball team secured a valuable victory in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, defeating Hungary 74:71 in an away match on Thursday. The game, played in Budapest, was another, albeit difficult, step for the 'Tricolors' towards the final tournament in Qatar. Despite the ultimate success, the French media are highly critical of their team's performance. 'Le Parisien' emphasizes that the team "saved their skin" but is still "far from World Cup level," pointing to numerous mistakes and imprecise play. A similar tone is echoed in 'Le Figaro', which describes how the French "escaped the Hungarian trap," suggesting the match was more of an exhausting battle than a comfortable victory for the favorite.

Qualification for the FIBA Basketball World Cup is a multi-stage process where national teams from different continents compete for a limited number of spots in the main tournament. The qualification system was reformed ahead of the 2027 edition, increasing the number of participating teams and stretching the process over several years, aiming to elevate the status of the qualifiers and promote the global development of the sport.

The decisive figure of the match was French point guard Nadir Hifi. His crucial shots in the final minutes and good game management allowed France to tip the scales of victory in their favor. Although the team led for a significant part of the match, in the last quarter they allowed Hungary to catch up, leading to a nerve-wracking finish. Ultimately, the narrow three-point victory confirms that the opponent was tough and that the French team is still searching for optimal form and rhythm in these qualifiers.

„C'est une victoire importante dans des conditions difficiles. Nous devons encore nous améliorer sur beaucoup de points, mais chaque match gagné nous rapproche du Qatar.” — Nadir Hifi

The match was broadcast live for the French audience. The broadcast was provided by the L'Équipe channel, both on television and via its online platform and mobile app. This allowed fans to follow all the twists and turns of this tense duel. This victory is France's sixth point in the qualifying group, strengthening their position in the standings. However, the road to qualification is long, and the 'Bleus' still have many matches ahead. Coach Vincent Collet will certainly have plenty of work to do to eliminate mistakes and increase the team's effectiveness, especially in offense, where some rigidity and lack of fluidity were evident.

Mentioned People

  • Nadir Hifi — French basketball player, point guard, key player in the match against Hungary
  • Vincent Collet — Head coach of the French men's national basketball team