France trounced Serbia & Montenegro 83-61 on Saturday to earn the right to face Belgium in the classification game to determine fifth and sixth place at the European Championships.

Russia were slow out of the gate but they galloped home and into the semi-finals of the European Championships with a 79-66 triumph over holders France.

Alain Jardel admitted before the tournament that his side probably wouldn´t retain the title and his players proved him right though they can´t be faulted for effort.

France coach Alain Jardel insists tournament favourites Russia will not intimidate his fast-improving outfit in Friday night’s quarter-final showdown.

"Russia are capable of the best as well as of the worst," Jardel said on Friday. “They are not invincible, everything is possible.”