FRA/CZE - France fully focused on bronze

LODZ (EuroBasket Women) - The day after the night before was not an easy one on Saturday for France, the outgoing EuroBasket Women champions.

The French players replayed their Semi-Final defeat against Turkey in their heads time and time again.

Even several hours later, the reality of what had happened was still hard to grasp for some of them.

"After the defeat, we felt like we were in a state of weightlessness," said centre Isabelle Yacoubou-Dehoui.

The fact that Pierre Vincent's charges would not be putting their title on the line in a Final against Russia did hit home hard soon enough, bringing the French crashing back down to earth.

Gone too were the hopes of securing an automatic place for next year's Olympic Games.

Les Bleues will have ample time to reflect on what might have been in that Semi-Final on their trip back home on Monday.

Until then, Vincent and team captain Celine Dumerc have called on all the players to focus on what can still be achieved - taking a bronze medal and cementing their place for next year's Olympic Qualifying Tournament - when they face the Czech Republic in Sunday's Third Place Game.

"Obviously we're all disappointed," said Vincent. "But it (the defeat against Turkey) is in the past. You only get to play for a European medal every two years so we need to go and get it."

Dumerc admitted to having had her fair share of struggles offensively in the tournament, but hopes she can get out of her slump and lead France to victory against the silver medalists at last year's FIBA World Championship for Women.

"I haven't been at my best in this tournament," said the 29-year-old.

"As the team's captain, I have to set the example. But at times, I wish someone would pull me along. I hope I will have what it takes to erase my performance against Turkey."

Dumerc believes her team-mates won't be lacking in motivation for the game.

"Every one of us wants to finish this tournament on a high, with a win and a medal," she explained.

"It's still a great achievement to get a medal and if we get it, we will be satisfied."

FIBA