DONGGUAN, China, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- A bitter loss against France in the quarterfinal of FIBA Basketball World Cup here on Wednesday ended the USA's 13-year unbeaten run at World Cup and Olympics, but the Americans have to stay focus as they need to play for honor in their next two games ahead.
"Any loss hurts, and in this situation, it hurts more. But life goes on," U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said after the game.
The U.S. will play Serbia in the the classification game of fifth to eighth.
"This is very important and we would have loved to have won. but we're all grown, we all have families and lives and life goes on," the 70-year-old said.
France, who averaged only 31 rebounds in their last five games in this World Cup, grabbed 41 rebounds tonight which paled in comparison to the U.S.'s 28.
"I think coach Collet had done an outstanding job. It is the best French team I've ever seen," Popovich said.
"They played very well in defense, each player individually played a role and collectively as a group, they were wonderful tonight," the 70-year old added.