PARIS 2024:
After a chaotic qualification phase, the French men’s basketball team secured a stunning victory in the semifinals against Germany and advanced to the Olympic final.
Could it be the Parisian air that’s bringing success to Vincent Collet’s team? After a solid win against Canada (76-66) in the quarterfinals, the French team triumphed on Thursday, August 8, in a semifinal that was far from guaranteed against a German team that had outplayed them during the qualification rounds. France won 73-69, earning a spot in the final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
France started poorly in this match, conceding the first quarter 18-25 to a German team led by the brilliant Dennis Schröder. Victor Wembanyama struggled at the basket, finishing the quarter with zero points, but Isaïa Cordinier stepped up impressively, scoring 9 points. “Right now, he’s on fire,” acknowledged teammate Matthew Strazel. “He gives us confidence on the court, strength to the whole team.”
A Rock-Solid Second Quarter
Something shifted in the second quarter. The French team seemed to finally grasp the stakes of the game in a buzzing Accor Arena. With a staunch defense (4 steals, 9 forced turnovers, and only 8 points conceded) and better shooting accuracy (despite a dismal 1 for 12 on three-pointers), France managed to tie the score at 33-33. “We stayed strong,” Strazel added.
In the third quarter, the French team regained (some) accuracy on three-pointers, thanks in part to Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier, which got the 15,000 spectators on their feet. Guerschon Yabusele also had an excellent game, helping France end the third quarter with a 6-point lead (56-50).
Cordinier Keeps His Cool
In the fourth quarter, France continued to control the game, and Victor Wembanyama added a fiery three-pointer. However, Germany wasn’t ready to give up and slowly closed the gap, trailing by only 2 points with 38 seconds left (70-68). But luck was on France’s side that afternoon, and despite a close call, the ball went out on Germany with 12 seconds left in the game.
All Vincent Collet’s men had to do was hold onto the ball and for Wembanyama to make his free throws. He missed the first but made the second, giving France a 3-point lead with 10.9 seconds remaining in a nail-biting finish. Cordinier didn’t miss his final two free throws, securing a 4-point lead with less than 10 seconds to go.
This victory highlighted the strength of the team, with Wembanyama (11 points and 7 rebounds) contributing crucial rebounds despite his shooting struggles, and standout performances from Yabusele (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Cordinier (16 points and 7 rebounds)
