Current:Home > StocksFrance advances to play USA for men's basketball gold -FinanceMind
France advances to play USA for men's basketball gold
View
Date:2025-04-18 12:45:12
PARIS — The French men’s Olympic basketball players didn’t want to leave the court. French fans didn’t want to leave Bercy Arena.
There was too much joy. They wanted the celebration to continue. They wanted to soak in France’s 73-69 victory over Germany in the semifinals and spot in the finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"Of course, some part of a dream come true,” France’s Victor Wembanyama said. “Big part of a goal we set ourselves months back. It’s a chance to write history even more. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime goal. Maybe nobody can reproduce that, so we have got to take our chance.”
Significant pressure was on France to medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
That pressure subsided with France’s victory, guaranteeing France will medal. Question is, will it be gold or silver? France will play the USA, a 95-91 winner over Serbia, in the gold-medal game Saturday.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
OPINION:Winter is coming for US men's basketball. Serbia game shows it's almost here.
France held off a late Germany rally, and Wembanyama, the rising NBA star, split two free throws, putting France ahead 71-68 with 10.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Dennis Schroder made a free throw to pull Germany within 71-69, Isaia Cordinier’s two free throws with 7.4 seconds left put the game out of reach.
"Incredible, incredible moment," Wembanyama said. "The fans made it hard for me not to cry. I thank them for being as they are and for enjoying it as much as they do, this chance, this thing that we’re all living."
➤ Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports' WhatsApp Channel
After an uneven performance in group play that included a narrow victory over Japan, a bad loss to Germany that resulted in public bickering between Evan Fournier and coach Vincent Collet and reduced minutes for Rudy Gobert, France rebounded in the knockout stage, beating Canada in the quarterfinals and 2023 FIBA World Cup champion Germany in the semis.
"Some inside stuff that happened between us. We talked it over," Fournier said. "This team's got so much heart, we've been through so much."
France finished without a medal at last year's FIBA World Cup, increasing the pressure to medal this summer.
"We really wanted to show that last year was an accident," Fournier said. "We weren't worth the tournament we had last year, and now we have our fans in front of us, and we gave them everything we have."
France cranked up the defense after falling behind 28-18 early in the second quarter. From that point to the midway point of the fourth quarter, France outscored Germany 48-25 for a 66-53 lead.
Guerschon Yabusele led France with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Cordinier scored 16 points and collected seven rebounds. Wembanyama, 20, made his presence felt with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
France earned silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, losing to the U.S. 87-82.
"We did not play our best game and they have changed a lot since we last saw them," Germany's Franz Wagner said. "Give them credit. They made some good adjustments and won the day."
Schroder led Germany with 18 points, and Wagner added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
➤ The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Philadelphia votes to ban ski masks to decrease crime. Opponents worry it’ll unfairly target some
- Florida Supreme Court rules police using deadly force not protected by Marsy’s Law
- Returns are so costly for retailers, some are telling customers to keep unwanted goods
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Mississippi sheriff changes policies after violent abuse. Victims say it’s to escape accountability
- How Kate Middleton's Latest Royal Blue Look Connects to Meghan Markle
- More cantaloupe recalls: Check cut fruit products sold at Trader Joe's, Kroger and Sprouts
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- US proposes plan to protect the snow-dependent Canada lynx before warming shrinks its habitat
Ranking
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- A yoga leader promised followers enlightenment. But he’s now accused of sexual abuse
- Insulin users beware: your Medicare drug plan may drop your insulin. What it means for you
- New York Times report says Israel knew about Hamas attack over a year in advance
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Authorities in Haiti question former rebel leader Guy Philippe after the US repatriated him
- Why NFL Analyst Tony Gonzalez Is Thanking Taylor Swift
- Biden rule aims to reduce methane emissions, targeting US oil and gas industry for global warming
Recommendation
DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
Trump and DeSantis will hold dueling campaign events in Iowa with the caucuses just six weeks away
How to share Wi-Fi passwords easily from iPhone, other devices
Wisconsin Senate Democrats choose Hesselbein as new minority leader
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Poverty is killing the Amazon rainforest. Treating soil and farmers better can help save what’s left
Judge rejects Trump’s claim of immunity in his federal 2020 election prosecution
Hot Holiday Party Dresses Under $100 From H&M, Anthropologie & More