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jul 19 2026Spain had missed the podium for three consecutive U20 EuroBasket editions, arriving with a 2006 generation that also struggled at the U18 Euros. But in Slovenia, head coach Carles Marco assembled a competitive, cohesive team with talented players who delivered their best to defeat France in the bronze medal game.
Bronze medal games have unique characteristics, with two teams recovering from defeats in crucial matchups, and a bronze medal being a highly meritorious prize. Spain arrived without Bruno Alocén due to physical issues, facing a rival with considerable physical talent and quality. And without a podium finish since 2022, when Juan Nuñez led the team.
But Spain assembled a competitive team that remained true to its identity: defense, effort, and collective offense. With Raúl Villar leading operations, and featuring interesting names such as Jorge Carot, Iker Garmendia, Bruno Alocén, Álex Blanco, Adrián Torres, Max Gaspa, Didac Cebolla, Jorge Arias, Andrés Amón, Michael Enabulele, and Rafa Rodríguez.
The game started 0-2 but France quickly took control, dominating the first two quarters with small leads on the scoreboard. The French were among the gold medal favorites alongside Serbia, but arrived after losing a semifinal they had won.
However, Carles Marco's team demonstrated throughout the tournament that they were highly competitive and fought hard in every matchup. And so it was—they mounted a comeback to finish the second quarter ahead (27-31) and reached a +8 lead early in the third quarter (33-41).
Andrés Amón played his best game, helping near the paint. Raúl Villar wasn't particularly sharp offensively, but contributed on the boards, assists, and controlling the pace of play. With five minutes remaining, Álex Blanco showed his quality with a basket near the rim to make it 47-53. France looked for one-on-one plays, while Spain relied on team basketball.
Spain reached the final minutes in the bonus, with a small lead on the scoreboard. With Raúl Villar leading the way, two free throws from Max Gaspa and a basket from Adrián Torres made it 50-63 with two minutes left, and the game was decided.
