MADRID -- Twelve years ago, on a September evening in what was then Yugoslavia, Nenad Krstic huddled in front of a television set and cheered on his nation as it fought for a title halfway around the world.

"I was 19 years old playing for Partizan," he said. "We watched the game in a gas station because we were traveling from a tournament. We were on the bus when the game started so we stopped and watched the game. There was no Internet then. And it was a small TV."

It was a classic. The former Yugoslavia retained its FIBA World Championship title with an overtime victory over Argentina in Indianapolis.

The Serbian national team has felt it inherited the nation's proud tradition of success since the Balkan powerhouse splintered apart. And after holding off France 90-85 in an epic semifinal at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Serbia will now get a shot at Team USA for the right to hold a world title yet again.

Some familiar faces now stand between seven-year NBA veteran Nenad Krstic and World Cup gold. JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images

"We have that pride inside of us," said Krstic, now 31 and playing in Turkey after a seven-year stint in the NBA. "We can say now, we're in the final. But we always carry that pride. Even when we lost in the [EuroBasket] quarterfinal last year, we came back this year and played with belief."

Krstic & Co. tore Les Bleus apart in the first half. Milos Teodosic shot 7-for-8 in the opening 20 minutes, scoring 18 of his 28 points as the Serbs looked unstoppable.

France, meanwhile, looked overmatched at the start. Without Tony Parker, the backcourt couldn't keep up with the wily Teodosic (5-for-7 from 3) or the rangy Nemanja Bjelica (10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists).

Les Bleus -- perhaps inevitably -- ignited behind a Nicolas Batum scoring barrage. The Portland Trail Blazers forward scored 35 points by himself, 17 of which came in a fourth-quarter charge that saw France narrow the deficit to four with just over two minutes to play.

It wasn't enough, though. Up two with 17 seconds left, Serbia sank six straight free throws to seal the game and send France home.

"That's no consolation," Batum said with a shrug. "We showed that we can play defense two nights ago and we didn't do it tonight. I don't know why. We said we'd be ready, that we would do it. In the semifinal of a World Cup, you've got to be ready. You can't wait until the second half. You can't wait until you're down 15."

It was hard to see this coming for Serbia heading into the round of 16. The Serbs were 2-3 in group play, including a one-point loss to France. But they eased past unbeaten Greece and then blew away Brazil before inching past France for a shot at the title.

"I think something clicked," Krstic said. "We talked a lot in the locker room. Our coach gave us confidence. He always talked to us and something clicked. I can't explain it. We support each other as a team. Everyone stands up and supports each other.

"It means a lot because we are a basketball country. Lots of people are watching this game. It means a lot to us, first of all. And it will mean a lot for the future because we needed this medal to continue success."