Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Women’s EuroBasket match.
The Women’s EuroBasket play-offs open with a clash between France and Lithuania. On paper, the favourite is clear, with the French team in a dominant position heading into this single-elimination contest. Still, at international level, surprises can never be entirely ruled out.
France (women)
France have shown consistent improvement throughout the tournament. Their most recent performance — a commanding 111:37 victory over Switzerland — reflected a team operating at full strength. Team leader Janelle Salaun is averaging 20.6 points per game in the competition. Crucially, she has received solid support across the board, with the squad converting 47.9% of their field goal attempts. That percentage would be even higher were it not for a sluggish 35.3% in the opening game.
Lithuania (women)
Lithuania progressed from a relatively soft group, but even there they struggled at times. They narrowly edged past mid-tier teams like Slovenia (77:71) and Serbia (74:63), but never looked competitive in a 51:65 defeat to Italy. Their shooting dropped to 29.6% overall, with a dismal 1-for-13 from three-point range. Considering that France are significantly stronger than the lineup of Italy, Lithuania face an uphill battle with little room for optimism.
France (women) vs Lithuania (women) Prediction
France dominated their group stage with ease. Every area of their game appears finely tuned, and they show no signs of vulnerability. Lithuania are unlikely to cope with the defensive pressure and overall quality of their opponents. A clear-cut win for the French team looks the most plausible outcome.
