History repeats: Opals fall to China in World Cup semi-final

A repeat of the 1994 World Cup semi-final in Sydney, saw an ending eerily similar to that of the Tokyo Olympics group stage game between the same nations.

Credit: FIBA

Let’s be honest, it doesn’t take a rivalry for fans to get hyped for a World Cup semi-final.

But it doesn’t hurt the situation, and the rivalry between Australia and China has developed rapidly since Australia’s move into FIBA Asia after the final FIBA Oceania tournament in 2015. Although the teams did not meet at the 2017 Asia Cup, the Australian Opals dished out an 83-42 hammering to China in the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals on their way to a silver medal in Tenerife. Since that point, China have won all three of the teams’ contests at major events, including the heartbreaking Olympic group stage loss for the Opals that ended in controversial circumstances following a last second foul call.

Of course, the history doesn’t stop there.