France crushes Finland 98-69 to finish top of World Cup qualifying group
A dominant first half set up a 98-69 victory for France over Finland on Monday in Pau, securing first place in Group G of the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
France closed the preliminary round of 2027 World Cup qualifying with a statement win, overwhelming Finland 98-69 at the Palais des Sports in Pau. The victory, combined with the required eight-point margin to overturn the away loss, lifted Les Bleus to the top of Group G with a 5-1 record.
Game flow
France seized control from the opening tip. A 14-2 run inside three minutes set the tone, and the lead ballooned to 31-16 by the end of the first quarter. The hosts never let Finland back into the contest, stretching the advantage to 49-30 at halftime. The second half brought no respite for the visitors, as France maintained defensive intensity and cruised to a 29-point win.
- Tip-off at Palais des Sports, Pau
- France races to a 14-2 lead after three minutes
- End of first quarter: France 31-16 Finland
- Halftime: France 49-30 Finland
- Final: France 98-69 Finland
Key performers
Guard Sylvain Francisco, preferred to Nadir Hifi in the rotation, punished Finland with a series of deep three-pointers. Élie Okobo provided an instant spark off the bench, scoring nine points in the first quarter alone. Rudy Gobert controlled the paint with blocks and a memorable dunk off a Guerschon Yabusele assist. Matthew Strazel also contributed as the lead grew.
We respected what we wanted to do: stop this Finnish team from playing, a team that has very good basketball and hurts you from three. We were tough on that (8/30 for Finland), and we found real solutions on offense.
Qualification picture
France had already secured a place in the main round before tip-off, but the win ensured they carry a 5-1 record into the next phase, two wins better than four of their future opponents and one ahead of Finland. The top three finishers in the six-team main-round group will qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.
What's next
The main round begins in late August. Before that, France will play two friendlies against Nikola Jokic's Serbia: on 20 August in Belgrade and 23 August in Orléans. The competitive fixtures resume on 27 August at the Accor Arena in Paris, followed by an away game three days later. In the main round, France will face Slovenia, Estonia and Sweden, while carrying over results against Finland and Hungary without replaying those nations.
Pau atmosphere
A capacity crowd at the Palais des Sports, including families who had delayed holidays to attend, created a fervent atmosphere. Local brass bands added a South-West flavour, and fans cheered every French basket. Victor Wembanyama was absent due to the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals run, but the crowd still savoured the chance to see Gobert, Okobo and the rest of the national team up close.
