Pre-tournament favourites Russia ended Spain´s dream run at the European Championships on Saturday night to reach the final - and qualify for the Olympics.

Riding the hot hands of Olga Artechina and Elena Baranova, who repeatedly hurt the Spanish with three-point shots at crucial times, Vadim Kapranov´s troops returned to a title game for the third year running.

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.”