{"id":261546,"date":"2026-09-08T03:31:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T03:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/were-still-alive-opals-tough-road-to-world-cup-gold-revealed-after-costly-belgium-loss-as-must-win-italy-clash-awaits\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T03:31:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T03:31:00","slug":"were-still-alive-opals-tough-road-to-world-cup-gold-revealed-after-costly-belgium-loss-as-must-win-italy-clash-awaits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/were-still-alive-opals-tough-road-to-world-cup-gold-revealed-after-costly-belgium-loss-as-must-win-italy-clash-awaits\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We\u2019re still alive\u2019: Opals\u2019 tough road to World Cup gold revealed after costly Belgium loss as must-win Italy clash awaits"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The FIBA Women\u2019s Basketball World Cup in Germany is entering its next phase, with the quarter-final qualifiers taking centre stage and the Australian Opals, after a strong start to the tournament, suddenly finding themselves on a difficult road to gold.<\/p>\n

Watch the Women\u2019s 2026 FIBA World Cup LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The Opals opened their campaign with impressive wins over Puerto Rico (70-54) and T\u00fcrkiye (87-71), but their strong start was marred by an injury to reigning WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith.<\/p>\n

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Smith played just 12 minutes against Puerto Rico, recording 10 points and eight rebounds before leaving the game with a lower-leg injury. The star Opal would then miss Australia\u2019s next two games, leaving a significant hole in Sandy Brondello\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n

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Alanna Smith plays during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 match between Australia and Puerto Rico in Berlin, Germany, on September 4, 2026. (Photo by Marcin Golba\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Smith\u2019s absence has been somewhat softened by the performances of Steph Talbot, who is putting together an impressive tournament, averaging 14.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game through the group stage.<\/p>\n

However, the Opals were brought back down to earth in their final group game, falling 80-68 to Belgium in an underwhelming performance.<\/p>\n

Australia were left chasing the game early after Belgium took a 23-17 lead into quarter-time and, although the Opals fought their way back into the contest, their poor shooting made it an uphill battle.<\/p>\n

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Ezi Magbegor is seen during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 match between Belgium and Australia in Berlin, Germany, on September 7, 2026. (Photo by Marcin Golba\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Australia shot just 3-of-17 (17%) from three-point range, while Belgium star Emma Meesseman took control with 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.<\/p>\n

Belgium led for 38 minutes and 23 seconds of the game, while Australia held the advantage for just 35 seconds. The Opals managed a 6-0 run and briefly threatened to swing the momentum, but the world No.5-ranked nation remained in control, stretching its lead to as many as 15 points.<\/p>\n

Ezi Magbegor continued to lead the way for Australia, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds and a steal, but the Opals\u2019 struggles from the field made it difficult to generate any sustained run.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously disappointed we didn\u2019t get the result that we wanted tonight,\u201d head coach Sandy Brondello said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBelgium were clearly the better team. I just think we went away from what our identity is.<\/p>\n

EXCLUSIVE: Inside Opals\u2019 \u2018insane\u2019 gold medal-winning run, 20 years on, and why legend thinks they can do it again<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cYou see the chemistry that they have. They just found solutions and moved the ball until they got the best look.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can learn a lot from this. We\u2019re still alive. We just have to get ready for the next game, learn, move forward and be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sandy Brondello, head coach of the Australia national team, is seen during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 match between Belgium and Australia in Berlin, Germany, on September 7, 2026. (Photo by Marcin Golba\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the loss was Australia\u2019s first of the tournament, the bigger consequence is the path it has now created for the Opals in their pursuit of gold.<\/p>\n

Finishing the group stage with a 2-1 record in Group C means Australia is now on course to potentially face Team USA in the semi-finals, should the Opals progress that far.<\/p>\n

A victory over Belgium would have seen Australia finish atop the group and potentially avoid the world No.1-ranked Americans until the gold medal game.<\/p>\n

Instead, the Opals have little room for error, but before they can even begin thinking about a potential showdown with Team USA, another challenge stands in their way.<\/p>\n

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Ezi Magbegor plays during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 match between Belgium and Australia in Berlin, Germany, on September 7, 2026. (Photo by Marcin Golba\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Australia will face world No.14 Italy, a nation it has beaten in all five previous meetings dating back to their first encounter in 1967.<\/p>\n

Their most recent meeting came all the way back in 1994, when the Opals claimed a 73-51 victory behind 29 points from Australian basketball legend Michelle Timms.<\/p>\n

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31 Jul 1996: Michele Timms of Australia runs down the court during a game against Russia at the Olympic Games at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. Australia won the game 74 – 70. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello \/Allsport<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, 32 years later, the two nations will meet again with an entirely new generation of players and a spot in the quarter-finals on the line.<\/p>\n

Italy should not be taken lightly.<\/p>\n

They finished the group stage with a 2-1 record and pushed Team USA right down to the wire, falling by just three points in a 55-52 battle.<\/p>\n

One of Australia\u2019s biggest priorities will be containing Italian star Cecilia Zandalasini, who is averaging 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game through the tournament.<\/p>\n

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Cecilia Zandalasini of Italy drives to the basket during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Germany 2026 match between Italy and China at Max Schmeling Halle on September 07, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Mami Yasui\/FIBA via Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Opals will hold an advantage in several areas, particularly from beyond the arc. Italy is shooting just 16.1% from three-point range through the tournament, while Australia sits at 25.8%, itself below what the Opals would expect.<\/p>\n

But the biggest question heading into the must-win clash remains the availability of Smith.<\/p>\n

The Australian star is considered day-to-day and, with the Opals having nearly 48 hours between games, there remains hope she could return against Italy.<\/p>\n

Whether Smith is available or not, there is no room for error.<\/p>\n

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BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 01: Alanna Smith of Australia poses for a portrait during content day at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Germany 2026 Portraits &amp; Content Day on September 01, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Milad Payami\/FIBA via Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brondello\u2019s side has now entered knockout basketball, where one poor performance can end a World Cup campaign and Australia\u2019s hopes of adding another medal to its decorated history.<\/p>\n

The Opals will take on Italy this Thursday morning at 4:45am AEST, live on ESPN and Kayo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The FIBA Women\u2019s Basketball World Cup in Germany is entering its next phase, with the quarter-final qualifiers taking centre stage and the Australian Opals, after a strong start to the tournament, suddenly finding themselves on a difficult road to gold. Watch the Women\u2019s 2026 FIBA World Cup LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":261547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[156],"class_list":{"0":"post-261546","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=261546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261546\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/261547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=261546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=261546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=261546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}