Vincent Collet keeps his starting five which beat Canada but the start is different for the Blues. Dennis Schröder And Franz Wagner are doing, as in the group stage, very badly to the defense of the French Team and there is onlyIsaiah Cordinier which brings movement to Vincent Collet's troop, once again too static in attack.
Victor Wembanyama is in difficulty and it is during his exit that France gets back on track, notably with Mathias Lessort in the low post. Isaïa Cordinier is fortunately on cloud nine to bring the Blues back.
After a quarter, the “Mannschaft” is logically ahead (25-18), while the tricolor attack is still too frozen on set play, but “Wemby” finally finds the way to the circle, then against Daniel Theis. The Alien, finally served in movement towards the circle, converts the 2+1 and the Blues are more than ever in the match.
France is back
Vincent Collet's defense is doing a monstrous job, with Nicolas Batum smothering Dennis Schröder. The Germans are no longer able to break the first French defensive curtain and Victor Wembanyama dunks over Daniel Theis. At half-time, the two teams are back to back (33-33) while Germany has only scored 8 small points in the second quarter. That's how much defensive effort the French team put in!
After several missed 3-point attempts by the Germans, Nicolas Batum put France in the lead for the first time in the match (36-33). Guerschon Yabusele slammed a huge dunk and then scored several baskets but the “Mannschaft” also found solutions. The “Dancing Bear” continued to pummel the German interiors while Nicolas Batum did the same thing in Tokyo with a space block on Dennis Schröder…
Unfortunately for the Blues, Victor Wembanyama still can't find the target from afar (0/5). This is not the case for Isaïa Cordinier, while Germany takes advantage of his offensive rebounds to stay in touch.
But Evan Fournier intercepts and then scores a 3-pointer. Germany calls a timeout as France goes to +6 (56-50). This is the score at the end of the third quarter as the Germans no longer find an offensive option against the French defensive wall, which closes all the penetration corridors!
The “Mannschaft” fails to carry out the hold-up
Frank Ntilikina's big offensive rebound puts France at +8 (58-50) but Isaac Bonga scores an important 3-pointer. The atmosphere is stifling and Victor Wembanyama finally scores a 3-pointer. 61-53 for the Blues. And even 63-53 after Mathias Lessort's low post work. The Arena Bercy is on fire as the final draws closer.
Victor Wembanyama against Dennis Schröder and Frank Ntilikina also punishes from afar. France is at +13 (66-53) but the “Mannschaft” picks up points then comes back to two possessions (69-63) on a huge 3-pointer from Andreas Obst. France is unable to restart, with Isaïa Cordinier's dunk coming out on top. A basket from Dennis Schröder brings Germany even closer (69-65) and Mathias Lessort only makes one out of two throws.
And Franz Wagner scores a huge 3-pointer! The Blues are now only two points ahead (70-68) with 38 seconds left. Nicolas Batum's shot doesn't go in but Franz Wagner slips and the ball comes back to the Blues. Victor Wembanyama only makes one out of two free throws and Germany still has a chance to equalize (71-68).
But France makes a strategic mistake and Isaïa Cordinier does not tremble on the line. 73-69! France is in the final of the Olympic Games, where it will face the United States or Serbia.
Photo credit: FIBA
