Serbia saw off the challenge of Brazil with a 84-56 win to make it their fourth top-four finish at the sport's flagship tournament in the last five editions.

Miloš Teodosić led the way for the ultimate winner with 23 points, while Bogdan Bogdanović added 12, and Miroslav Raduljica and Nenad Krstić had 10 apiece.

For Brazil, however, it was their seventh straight failed attempt to make it into the top four at basketball's showpiece event, with Anderson Varejão and Marquinhos Vieira being the only players to score in double digits for the nation, finishing with 12 points each.

Teodosić laid the cards on the table when he scored eight points in the first six minutes to see Serbia taking a 14-9 lead.

Brazil did get within one point, but Serbia ploughed ahead and were leading 21-17 after 10 minutes.

Back-to-back Alex Garcia three-pointers then saw Brazil in front 23-21 but Teodosić then fought to put Serbia back up at 29-23.

Not wanting to be defeated, Brazil's Nene Hilario spurred a 9-0 run that put them up 32-29 but once again Serbia proved the strongest side and came back with eight straight points for a 37-32 halftime lead.

The return from the break did nothing for Brazil's chances as both Tiago Splitter and Nene were hit with technicals after a foul, resulting in five made free throws and then a Stefan Marković lay-up for a seven-point possession before Bogdanović nailed a three-pointer to push the advantage to 53-36.

That extended out to 66-44 after three quarters and Brazil could only get to within 23 points in the fourth quarter.

Boris Diaw's 15 points helped France on their way to the FIBA Basketball World Cup semi-final ©Getty Images


Elsewhere, France earned their semi-final spot by upsetting hosts Spain 65-52.

Despite the home side having dominated their first six games in the group phase, their visiting challengers and reigning EuroBasket champions defended well enough to take the match and end Spain's hopes of a making the final on home turf.

Boris Diaw and Thomas Heurtel were France's top scorers, with 15 and 13 points respectively, while Pau Gasol had 17 for Spain.

The winning pair of Serbia and France will now face each other in Friday's (September 12) semi-final at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid.

The other semi-final will feature Lithuania taking on the United States at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona tomorrow.

The third and fourth playoff is due to take place on Saturday (September 13) with the final the next day.

Both matches are due to be played in Madrid. 

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