体坛英语新闻：Spain, U.S. progress in basketball World Cup knockout stage

MADRID, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hosts Spain booked their place in the quarterfinals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Sunday thanks to an 89-56 win over Senegal.

The Spanish, led once again by a towering display from Pau Gasol, may have struggled on three-point throws, especially in the first two quarters, but that was more than compensated by a devastating efficiency on their two-point field goals, which the Spanish defense once again showed itself to be the most powerful in the tournament to snuff out the challenge of the Africans in front of a delighted packed house in Madrid's Palacio de Deportes.

Spain will play France in the quarterfinals after the latter defeated Croatia 69-64 in a game which took time to catch fire as defenses started out on top.

The first two quarters ended with the score 23-22 in France's favor, the lowest first half score in a World Cup game since 1968, as both sides saw themselves in the ascendency.

However, a more complete performance from the French team was enough to nullify a great display by Croatia's Bojan Bogdanovic, who netted 27 of his side's points and collected six rebounds.

The Spanish will be confident of reaching the semi-finals after a straightforward 88-62 in their penultimate game in Group A.

The United States were the first team to book their place in the quarter finals with an 86-63 win over Mexico on Saturday afternoon.

The Americans were rarely in trouble in the game played in Barcelona's Palau San Jordi, leading Mexico by a comfortable if not convincing 42-27 at halftime as both sides surrendered possession with too much ease.

The third quarter saw the USA assure the final victory as they scored 24 points to 11 by the Mexicans and with a 27 point lead that allowed them to relax in the final 10 minutes knowing that they had booked their place in the last eight.

Steph Curry was the standout player for the Americans as he hit the target with six out of his nine three-point throws, while Thompson's 15 points and 5 defensive rebounds were also important in the win as were Kenneth Faried's 8 points and 8 rebounds, most of which came in the first two quarters.

The USA will play Slovenia, whose passing game was enough to beat the power play of the Dominican Republic.

The Slovenians, who only lost to Lithuania in the group stage, got a grip of the game in the second quarter then they netted 23 points to their rivals' 10, with the Dragic brothers leading the way and with the Slovenian defense working hard in the zone, the Dominican Republic were penalized for a percentage of just 17 percent on three point throws which handicapped their attempts to get back into the game.