Challenging the United States in the Olympic final is every young basketball player's dream. And what about beating the American “Avengers” in the Olympic final, on home soil?
For the Blues, the meeting is set for tonight, 9:30 p.m. A meeting for history for this group that we did not expect at such a party. It must be said that after the fiasco of the last World Cup, plus an extremely complicated preparation and group stage, (almost) no one was betting on Vincent Collet's troop.
The Euroleague impact
But everything changed before the quarter-finals. By relying on its Euroleague profiles (Isaïa Cordinier, Mathias Lessort, Guerschon Yabusele…), France overturned Canada and then Germany!
Facing the United States of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant & Co, it will be necessary to maintain the same defensive aggressiveness, continuing to press inside when the defensive changes allow it. To wear down the American attackers and if possible make Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and company take fouls.
“France's evolution is impressive” explains Steve Kerr. “They play very physical, we have to prepare for that. We will have to match their intensity and even surpass it. That's the challenge. Thanks to Cordinier and (Guerschon) Yabusele, they play harder, faster and with more power.”
But with Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis, the United States has some “meat” underneath.
Need an address… and Victor Wembanyama
Led by an Arena Bercy that we expect to be overheated, the Blues will have to resist the American defensive pressure and especially the density of Steve Kerr's troops, which allowed them to overturn Serbia, which seemed to have achieved the perfect match to bring this constellation of stars down from its cloud.
For this, France will need a great outside address, and especially a very great Victor Wembanyama, who has nevertheless suffered offensively since the start of the competition…
“But there is one more match” recalled Vincent Collet after the semi-final. “And this type of player always has a great match in the tournament. Since there is only one left, too bad, it's for Saturday (laughs).”
US MAJOR FIVE
Stephen Curry – Devin Booker – LeBron James – Kevin Durant – Joel Embiid
UNITED STATES STAFF
LeBron James: 14.2 points, 8.2 assists and 7.0 rebounds in 23 minutes (5 games)
Stephen Curry: 13.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22 minutes (5 games)
Devin Booker: 11.0 points, 3.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 21 minutes (5 games)
Kevin Durant: 13.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21 minutes (5 games)
Jrue Holiday: 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 19 minutes (4 games)
Joel Embiid: 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18 minutes (4 games)
Anthony Edwards: 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18 minutes (5 games)
Bam Adebayo: 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 18 minutes (5 games)
Anthony Davis: 8.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 16 minutes (5 games)
Derrick White: 3.8 points, 1.6 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 16 minutes (5 games)
Jayson Tatum: 6.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20 minutes (3 games)
Tyrese Haliburton: 2.7 points and 0.7 assists in 9 minutes (3 games)
BROADCASTING
The France – United States match will be broadcast on France Televisions And Eurosportfrom 9:30 p.m.
