A great basketball battle, a real derby, drama... And at the end, an "explosion" in the famous "Bersi Arena".
Paris was waiting for one of the main wishes at the Olympic Games - French basketball players in the grand final.
The "Tricolors" defeated the world champion Germany (73:69) in an exciting semi-final and three years after Tokyo, they will once again play the match for the gold medal.
Gordon Herbert's boys opened the match better, they had 28:18, but as the first half progressed, it was seen that Vincent Kole's team, supported by a great crowd, was slowly waking up...
It was tied already at the break (33:33), and it seems that the French's much better opening in the sequel determined the course of the match...
On the wings of the great Gershon Jabusel, France slowly built a triumph, with six minutes to go they had a double-digit advantage (66:53), but Germany did not give up.
Three-pointers by Andreas Obst and Franz Vanger in the finish brought the rulers of the planet back into the game (70:68), and the hosts were calmer in the penalty shootout. First, Viktor Vembanjama hit only one free throw, Denis Schroeder did the same on the other side, to put the point on the match by Aize Kordinje who did not make a mistake from the throw line.
Jabusele finished the match with 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists, and Kordinje with 16 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Vembanjama also scored in double figures with 11 points (along with seven rebounds and four assists), as well as Matias Lesor with 10 points (four rebounds).
On the other side, Schroeder scored 18 points and Franz Wagner scored 10 points.
Three years ago, France played against the United States of America in the final - whether it will be the same this summer or whether Serbia will direct one of the most beautiful and sensational stories of the Games will be known after the second semi-final, which starts at 21:XNUMX p.m.
Bonus video:
