The World Cup Semifinals Snub: How Basketball Politics Trumped On Court Performance The women's FIBA World Cup semifinal match between France and Germany was an unmitigated disaster for the host nation.
Despite a quarterfinal win over European champion Belgium, Germany was shut out by France in the semifinals.
Germany's advantages were clear cut from the start: their home court advantage and quarterfinal victory seemed to have secured them a spot in the final stages.