MUNICH (Germany) - One thing you can be certain of when painting the landscape of European basketball: France will be in the forefront of the picture.

A perennial challenger, the turn of the century has seen France switch through gears and become a lock in the Quarter-Finals, with four podium finishes in recent FIBA EuroBasket history.

It all started with a bronze medal in Belgrade, where Tony Parker and Co. produced the shock of the tournament by knocking out Serbia and Montenegro in the Play-Offs.

A third place in 2005 was followed with a runners-up spot in the 2011 edition in Lithuania, which was only the warm up for the amazing FIBA EuroBasket 2013. France won the event in Slovenia, getting their first and so far their only title in the continental championship.

More of the same was expected when they hosted the Final Round of FIBA EuroBasket 2015, but Pau Gasol and Spain had other ideas in the Semi-Finals, pushing France to third spot once more. Add to the tally another two bronze medals from the FIBA Basketball World Cup, plus a silver medal from the 2000 Summer Olympics and it's easy to see - France have made winning a habit.

FIBA