France coach Claude Bergeaud praised his team's courage and determination after they booked their ticket to the EuroBasket quarter-finals by defeating Serbia & Montenegro 74-71.

Les Bleus, who started the competition in poor form, displayed their best performance of the competition so far last night in their must-win play-off tie.

"Everyone made their contribution," said Bergeaud after the win.

		“	We thought we would take risks...and it worked. We are very happy.	„
		Claude Bergeaud

"We are building up a wall. Sometimes it crumbles, but this time we cemented it.

"Our game was very strong both in defence and attack. We managed to unsettle our opponents because we stayed in the game both physically and mentally.

"We thought we would take risks...and it worked. We are very happy."

Small forward Florent Pietrus was satisfied his side finally showed their potential.

"Up until now we did not have the opportunity to show what we are capable of, but now it's been done," said Pietrus.

Captain Antoine Rigaudeau added on www.lequipe.fr: "This is a fantastic achievement, there is no other word to describe it.

"We held on for 40 minutes despite a few lapses of form.

"We played the way we had to, playing to our strengths and without fear."

France will next face Lithuania and Bergeaud is keen to remind his troops that the objective remains a top six finish and a ticket to the 2006 World Championships.

"We must regain our composure before the Lithuania game," he added. "We must remember we have not achieved anything yet.

"If we want to reach our objective and finish in the top six, we must win at least one of the next two games.

"If beating Serbia & Montenegro is a great achievement today, it will be worth nothing if we don't qualify for the World Championships."