Credit: Dov Halickman

Israel pulled off a remarkable turnaround against previously unbeaten France, overcoming a first-half deficit of up to 10 points to claim an 82-69 victory in what could prove to be a pivotal Group D result at FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

The Israeli side limited Les Bleus to just 13 points in the fourth quarter, and Deni Avdija played a starring role, sparking a late run that changed the course of the game.

The turning point came in the final stanza, when Israel ramped up their defensive intensity and pushed in transition. Within three minutes, they went on an 11-0 run to take a 66-59 lead with 7:10 remaining on the clock.

Avdija’s decisive plays then helped Israel extend the advantage to 74-63 with 3:25 left. France’s 13-point fourth quarter was their lowest output in a single quarter so far in the tournament.

The Israeli forward, who carried much of the offensive load, finished with a team-high 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. His clutch performances in the final frame inspired teammates like Yam Madar, who added 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the win.

“Everybody contributed today with the defensive game plan, with the aggressiveness, and the willingness to fight,” Avdija said, underlining the collective effort behind the victory.

Israel’s outside shooting also played a key role. The team converted 7-of-18 from beyond the arc, while France struggled from deep, hitting just 8-of-32 attempts.

Despite Israel’s defensive dominance, France excelled in ball movement, out-assisting the Israelis 19-12, and protected the rim effectively with nine blocks, whereas Israel had none.

The result puts both teams at 2-1 in Group D, confirming Israel as one of the tournament’s potential dark horses. Their next matchup will be against Belgium at 14:00 CET on September 2, following Slovenia’s earlier victory over the same opponent.

For France, the loss is a setback, meaning they must refocus quickly and prepare for their upcoming game against host nation Poland.

Israel’s Yovel Zoosman reflected on the team’s composure in the clutch moments: “We were there for the whole game. We kept our composure, we stayed solid, and made some very big plays. We took responsibility, not being afraid of the moment. And that’s what happened: big-time players making big-time plays.”

On the French side, Bilal Coulibaly admitted that the team fell short of expectations: “[We lacked] playing together, they adjusted with zone defensively, and we had to pass the ball more. We didn’t do that enough, and we have to be better on that. We missed Alex [Sarr] for sure, but we were supposed to do better.”

Israel’s late surge and disciplined execution showcased their potential to challenge the tournament favorites, while France must reassess and improve if they hope to reclaim their early dominance in Group D.

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