Women's basketball, Italy beats France and takes bronze at the European Championships

The Italian national women's basketball team closes its expedition to the European Women's Basketball Championships with the 'icing on the cake', the bronze medal demanded by coach Capobianco. Against France, in the final valid for third/fourth place, it ended 69-54 for the Azzuras thanks to a great performance, especially in defence. In attack, the usual Cecilia Zandalasini led her teammates with 20 points. This was the fourth medal in the team's history: after the gold in Rome in 1938, the bronze in Cagliari in 1974 and the silver in Brno in 1995.

It does not erase the disappointment for the semi-final lost to Belgium, but it is still an extraordinary result. Radiant at the end of the game was the president of the Italian Basketball Federation, Giovanni Petrucci, who emphasised the victory against the Olympic vice-champions: 'A glittering victory.

'This is a medal to dedicate to Polonara who is fighting a bigger battle than sport'. So said Gianni Petrucci, Federbasket president, after winning the bronze medal at the women's European Championships. 'Only thanks to these girls, truly a beautiful team, an exciting climb to this third place. History remembers that we have won a lot in the past but this third place is very shining. The element I liked most about this group is the friendship. Where this national team can go, we dream big. The boys? It is clear that I will put enormous pressure on coach Gianmarco Pozzetto. This is also a viaticum for the men. We hope to dream big in the men's too,' he concluded.