Bronzed in Tokyo in 2021, the French basketball team will at least be silver at home. The French women’s team dominated Belgium on Friday, August 9 at the Arena Bercy, in a stunning match that ended in overtime (81-75). The Tricolores managed to bring down the reigning European champions, who had beaten them in the semi-final of EuroBasket in 2023. They will now meet the United States in the final on Sunday (3:30 p.m.).
A playoff game. 19-1 France. Then 28-2 Belgium. And finally 16-2 for the Tricolores who we saw regaining control of the match. This semi-final was disjointed, alternating weak moments for both teams. The Belgians had the merit of hanging on, reaching overtime, while they were trailing by six points with 56 seconds to go. Fresher and still aggressive, the Blues ended up making the difference in overtime.
A victory with heart and guts. As clumsy as possible (30% shooting), Jean-Aimé Toupane’s players were able to compensate with almost constant activity, with offensive rebounds galore (19) and numerous fouls provoked to fuel the score with free throws. They will probably have to do better in the final to have a chance, but this feat says a lot about the character of this group.
France – United States, how we meet again. The Tricolores will have the honor of closing the program of these Paris Olympic Games, Sunday at 3:30 p.m. against Team USA, the same match as the men’s final, the night before. The Bleues will dream of a revenge of 2012, the only Olympic final of the French women’s basketball team until then, and of the thrashing suffered in London (86-50). The Americans have won the last seven editions and will be the big favorites.