Spain know only their very best will do against France

BUDAPEST (EuroBasket Women 2015) - There is a maxim, uttered by coaches around the world, that, to win basketball games, you need to expend effort for exactly 40 minutes and not a moment less.

"The last second matters," Silvia Dominguez declared. Usually, it is not critical. Occasionally, it means everything.

Yet after seeing their fate at EuroBasket Women 2015 hang in the balance until the very end of their Quarter-Final against Montenegro, Spain will come ready to go the full distance again tonight when they meet France for a place in the Final.

The defending champions have won eight consecutive games since they arrived in Hungary some 16 days ago. Even with a previous close encounter with Slovak Republic in the First Round, nothing has made their hearts pump faster than the adrenaline rush of the 75-74 clincher that took Las Rojas into the final four.

"We didn't probably bring our best basketball but when you play to be in the Olympic Qualifying tournament, that's what happens," said Dominguez, a veteran of four European championships.

"We played tough games during the last two years and all this experience, with many players in EuroLeague Women, it's normal to have these endings. You just try to put the ball in the best hands for the last shot and we made it."

Now for their old friends and foes - who advanced with a 77-74 victory over Russia - in a repeat of the 2013 Final in Orchies.

The rivalry has never died, despite the neighbours not having met since that day.

"We've had it since we won in 2013 there," Dominguez admitted. "But I think they are one of the strongest teams in this competition. Physically, they are stronger than us. They are athletic. We will need to bring our best."

That loss will loom over the re-match. Plus it is six years since the French landed a European crown. The pain of losing an opportunity in front of their home crowd will serve as rallying call, if any extra push were needed.

Sure it's just a Semi-Final. But for those of us who were in France, we will for sure remember this. - Dumerc

"It's in the back of our heads," Celine Dumerc confirms.

"It will be hard physically because we played hard against Russia. It was intense, right to the end. We have to recover. And then it will become a mental thing, where we have to be ready to fight for 40 minutes for a place in the final."

The match-up between reigning FIBA Europe Player of the Year Alba Torrens and a fit-again Endene Miyem may tilt the balance one way or the other. The Spaniard had 28 in her semi. Miyem exploded for 18 on her return after sitting out the Second Round through injury.

"We are not the same team without her," coach Valerie Garnier acknowledged. "She draws space."

But the Spanish can throw greater depth across the board at their rivals, especially in the back-court where the three-way playmaking rotation of Dominguez, Laia Palau and youthful prospect Leticia Romero can all offer different looks, with the former a huge part of the Montenegrin triumph.

"We know among the three of us, Palau is our starter but she had issues with foul trouble and I took my chance," Dominguez said. "Normally, I bring extra speed on the court but against Montenegro, I knew I had to control the tempo. And then Leticia is taking steps. She'll be the future."

But, said Dumerc: "Us too. Anaelle Lardy and Olivia Epoupa come in for us." But, she added the obvious. "The main danger is Torrens."

After surviving a huge scare, the tournament favourites can now maintain their quest to become the first repeat gold medallists since the former Soviet Union in 1991. It will, in the words of Spain coach Lucas Mondelo, be a war.

"I don't know if it's destiny but we are happy because our goal was to be in the top five and get a spot in Olympic qualifying," Dominguez adds. "Now we can dream of more."

Go to EuroBasketWomen2015.com for full coverage of EuroBasket Women 2015.

FIBA