In an exciting semifinal at the Paris Olympics, the French men's basketball team, propelled by an electrifying home crowd, managed to hold off a late surge from Germany and secure a spot in the gold medal match. The host nation emerged victorious with a score of 73-69 on Thursday, setting the stage for a showdown against the four-time reigning champions, the United States, or Serbia.
Decisive Performance and France's Reaction
Guerschon Yabusele was the standout for France, leading the team with 17 points, while Isaia Cordinier contributed 16. Victor Wembanyama, despite struggling with his shooting, managed to add 11 points, along with making key defensive plays that energized both the team and the fans at the Bercy Arena.
Germany, led by Dennis Schroder with 18 points, started strong, just like in their group stage victory over France. Fritz Wagner was the only other German player to score in double digits, while the team now focuses on securing its first Olympic medal in the bronze medal match.
Germany's fast start allowed them to take control early, with Schroder and Wagner finding their rhythm and extending the lead to 28-18 after a three-pointer from Nick Weiler-Babb at the beginning of the second quarter. However, France quickly responded, with Wembanyama making his presence felt. The young star started his scoring with a bench basket and followed it up with a block on Germany's Daniel Theis, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. His three-pointer and a powerful dunk before halftime helped France tie the game at 33-33.
The positive momentum continued in the second half, where Nicolas Batum hit a three-pointer to give France its first lead of the game. Yabusele, who was instrumental in France's quarterfinal victory over Canada, maintained his excellent performance, scoring key baskets to keep France ahead, despite Schroder’s efforts to keep Germany close.
The third quarter was a tightly contested battle, but France managed to create some separation when Evan Fournier hit a three-pointer, helping his team enter the final period with a 56-50 lead. France looked poised to pull away when Wembanyama hit a three-pointer, followed by a basket from Mathias Lessort, stretching the lead to 13 points after another block by Wembanyama on Schroder, which resulted in a transition three-pointer by Frank Ntilikina.
However, Germany refused to go down without a fight. Wagner’s three-pointer cut the deficit to just two points with less than 40 seconds remaining, putting pressure back on France. In the tense final moments, Wagner stumbled after securing a crucial rebound, giving France a chance. Wembanyama missed one of his two free throws, but Cordinier seized his opportunities at the line, sealing the victory and sending France to the final, much to the delight of the home supporters.
