France’s men’s basketball team ignited national pride and sent waves of excitement through the Bercy Arena as they secured a hard-fought 73-69 victory over Germany in the Olympic semifinals. The win propels the host nation into the gold medal game, where they’ll face the United States in a rematch of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics final.
The atmosphere in Paris was electric, with French flags coloring the stands and chants of “Allez Les Bleus!” echoing throughout the arena. As the final buzzer sounded, the celebration began in earnest, with players like Matthew Strazel breaking into dance and Evan Fournier jubilantly ripping off his jersey.
Guerschon Yabusele led the French charge with 17 points, while Isaia Cordinier contributed 16. NBA sensation Victor Wembanyama added 11 points and 7 rebounds, showcasing flashes of his immense potential, including a thunderous dunk over Daniel Theis that brought the crowd to its feet.
The game was a tale of momentum shifts. Germany started strong, building an early 12-2 lead. However, France’s coach Vincent Collet made crucial adjustments, bringing in Evan Fournier and Mathias Lessort to stabilize the team. By halftime, France had erased the deficit, tying the game at 33-33.
France’s defense tightened in the second and third quarters, outscoring Germany 38-25 to take a 56-50 lead into the final period. Despite a late German surge led by Dennis Schroder, who finished with 18 points, France held on for the win. Key free throws from Wembanyama and Cordinier in the closing seconds sealed the victory.
The loss ended Germany’s impressive 12-game winning streak in major international competitions, which included their triumph at last year’s World Cup. Franz Wagner, who contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds for Germany, noted, “After the first quarter, they kind of took us out of our rhythm.”
The semifinal was graced by the presence of basketball icons Tony Parker and Dirk Nowitzki, who watched the game side by side, adding to the sense of occasion.
Looking ahead to the gold medal game against the USA, Nicolas Batum expressed excitement about the rematch and the home crowd support: “It was insane tonight. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be Saturday. I can’t wait.”
As France prepares for its second consecutive Olympic final, the team’s performance has captivated the nation and set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable gold medal showdown in Paris. With home court advantage and momentum on their side, Les Bleus aim to go one better than their silver medal finish in Tokyo and claim Olympic basketball gold for the first time in their history.
AP
