Spain vs Belgium Preview: Gustafson vs Mesman, Who Will Lead Their Teams to the Semifinals?

At 8:30 PM on August 7th, in the quarterfinals of the women’s basketball event at the Paris Olympics, Spain’s women’s national team will face off against Belgium’s women’s national team. Currently ranked 4th in the world, Spain is placed 6th in the latest rankings. They have performed exceptionally well in the group stage, winning all three matches and securing the top spot, alongside the United States, as the only teams with a perfect record. Spain is considered a top-tier team in this tournament. However, their three consecutive wins came with some luck, as they only won by an aggregate of 10 points across the games. In their first match, they won by a single point in overtime against China, relying on a clutch free throw in the second game to secure a one-point victory over Puerto Rico, and in the final round, they won by 8 points against Serbia, narrowly avoiding being overturned when leading significantly. Spain’s leading scorer is Gustafson, an acquired center, who averages 17 points and 10 rebounds per game, both the highest for the team. Against China, she scored a double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Rodriguez is the second-leading scorer with an average of 15.7 points, followed by Kondé with 15 points per game. Along with Casas, Torrens, O’Keefe, and Gil, Spain does not have a standout scorer, with scoring distributed among several players. The Spanish team’s offensive pace is moderate, with strong defensive capabilities; in the two latter group stage matches, they conceded only 62 points each.

Compared to Spain, Belgium’s performance in the group stage was disappointing, losing heavily to Germany and the United States. They managed to advance to the next round with a 27-point victory over Japan in their final match, barely securing a place above China with a narrow 1-point advantage. Despite their poor group stage results, Belgium currently ranks 6th in the world, ranking 2nd overall in the latest women’s basketball rankings, just behind the United States. This indicates that they are highly trusted by official assessments. Belgium’s star player is Mesman, known for her exceptional individual abilities, averaging 26.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, making her one of the best performers in the current Olympic women’s basketball competition. Van Loo, playing for the WNBA’s Mystics, scores an average of 11.3 points and 5.7 assists per game, while Dralee adds 10.3 points and 4.7 assists. Linssen, an interior player, excels defensively, averaging 7 rebounds per game, along with 8.7 points.

Both Spain and Belgium are strong European teams, with a history of frequent encounters in both European and international tournaments, making them very familiar with each other. In their last 10 meetings, Spain has won 6 times, while Belgium has won 4, giving them a slight edge. However, in their most recent two matches, Belgium emerged victorious. In a pre-Olympic warm-up game, Belgium defeated Spain by 18 points (76-58), gaining psychological leverage.

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