Europeans earn spots

Croatia, Czech Republic, Turkey and France booked their tickets to the London Olympics.

Four teams book tickets to London this summer

Croatia, Czech Republic, Turkey and France booked their tickets to the London Olympics with quarter-final victories at the women's Qualifying Tournament in Ankara. Croatia earned a place for the first time in their history as they edged out Canada 59-56. Jelena Ivezic scored 12 points and added five rebounds, while Marija Vrsaljko scored 10 for a Croatia team who kept their composure despite a 16-5 Canadian run early in the second half. While Croatia will sample their first Olympics, the Czech Republic ensured a third successive appearance as they held off a Japanese fightback to win 53-47. The Czechs enjoyed an outstanding start, scoring the first 13 points and dominating the first quarter. But Japan rallied and got back to within three, 46-43 before the Czechs found that little bit extra. Petra Kulichova was the difference with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Qualifying tournament hosts Turkey then cheered the home crowd as they cruised to a 72-58 victory over Argentina that was even more one-sided than the final score suggested. Turkey were leading 35-15 at half-time as Argentina failed to put up much of a fight. France beat South Korea 80-63, losing the first and final quarters by a point but progressing comfortably thanks to a 41-22 score in between. Sandrine Gruda led all scorers with 19 points for the victors. The teams join the seven who have already qualified for the Olympics - hosts Great Britain, world champions the United States, and regional champions Brazil, China, Russia, Angola and Australia. The losing quarter-finalists still have one last chance of making the Olympics as they will now play off for the fifth and final place.