SOPRON (Hungary) - Spain or Czech Republic will lift the coveted FIBA U20 Women's European Championship trophy after both nations won their respective Semi-Final matchups on Friday.

Spain inflicted an incredible 26-0 second-half run on 2019 champions Italy to change the contest and it resulted in a remarkable 56-40 win. Having trailed by double-figures early in the game, Spain were unstoppable after the break as Italy endured a nightmare drought.

As well as only making 2 of 14 from long-range, Italy spilled the ball over 27 times, more than half of which were due to Spain turning the defensive screw.  Claudia Contell led Spain with 14 points, while Italy are now left contemplating a battle for the last podium step in the Third-Place Game with France.

The French team were pipped 65-63 in a roller-coaster and dramatic meeting with Czech Republic, although the win might have been more comfortable had the Czechs not missed 9 of 21 free-throws.

The game ebbed and flowed until a nail-biting conclusion when a go -ahead three-pointer with a couple of minutes to go by Valentyna Kadlecova put Czech Republic on the path to a tense victory. 

She finished with a game-hight 23 points to send her nation to their first title game in two decades, while Pauline Astier impressed with 18 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds for France.

Portugal or Hungary will be looking to cement a top five finish after they claimed wins against Poland and Serbia respectively. Portugal outlasted Poland 58-51 after a brilliant three-point shooting effort that saw them convert 12 scores from long-range. The hosts swept aside Serbia 82-66 as Reka Dombai top scored with 25 points and Julia Boros added 21.

In the classification games,  28 points from Axelle Van Eupen paced Belgium past Bulgaria 70-56. Netherlands beat Ireland 58-50 to get their first victory, Maud Huijbens claiming 18 points and 11 boards. Latvia raced past Sweden 78-58 as Nikola Priede claimed 13 points, while Finland prevailed 79-65 against Lithuania behind 20 points and 10 rebounds from Liisa Taponen. 

FIBA