Pau Gasol (C) of Spain goes to the basket past Damjan Stojanovski (L) of Macedonia during their FIBA EuroBasket 2011 semi-final basketball game in Kaunas September 16, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

KAUNAS, Lithuania - Holders Spain and France advanced to the European basketball championship final, and qualified for next year's Olympics, by beating Macedonia and Russia respectively on Friday.

The Spaniards, who won their first European title in Poland in 2009, overpowered tournament upstarts Macedonia 92-80 while France, looking for their maiden major championship crown, beat Russia 79-71.

Marc Gasol (L) of Spain is challenged by Predrag Samardziski of Macedonia during their FIBA EuroBasket 2011 semi-final basketball game in Kaunas September 16, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]