L’équipe de France U18 de baseball5 won the silver medal at the 2026 European Championships in Italy after losing the final against Turkey.
France entered the under-18 European Championships in Italy with strong championship aspirations following an undefeated five-game run in the initial group stage, as Dicodusport reported. The team continued this momentum through the first three matches of the round-robin phase before dropping a fixture to Turkey.
The Tricolores recovered quickly to defeat Romania, securing second place and a spot in the final. However, their primary continental rival proved insurmountable once again.
Turkey has repeatedly frustrated French ambitions across various international disciplines. The rivalry previously saw the Bleuets fall short against the same opponent in the fifth-place match at the Youth Olympic Games and in the final of the Mediterranean Games.
The championship match in Italy followed a tense three-manche structure. After conceding the opening frame, the French side dominated the second frame with overwhelming offensive pressure. Yet, they ultimately conceded the decisive third and final frame to lose 1-2.
| Tournament Phase / Match | Opponent | Result / Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Round-Robin (Late Stage) | Turkey | Defeat |
| Round-Robin (Recovery) | Romania | Victory (2nd Place Secured) |
| European Championship Final | Turkey | Defeat (1-2 in frames, Silver Medal) |
Despite the silver medal finish, gold remains elusive for the youth program on the international stage. The squad leaves Italy with second-place honors while questions regarding how to overcome their Turkish rivals linger ahead of future global fixtures.
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