Guerschon Yabusele led the French team with 17 points, while Isaia Cordinier added 16, including two crucial free throws with seven seconds left to secure the victory.
France, which won the silver medal at the Tokyo Games, will now face the United States for gold, following the Americans’ narrow 95-91 victory over Serbia in Thursday’s other semifinal. Victor Wembanyama showed remarkable resilience during the match, sporting a shirt stained with blood from a fresh cut on his neck and fighting back tears at the end of the match.
“In our national anthem we talk about blood,” Wembanyama said. “We are willing to shed blood on the court. If that will allow us to win gold, I am willing. Let them have all my blood.” Wembanyama, already the NBA Rookie of the Year and the No. 1 pick in the draft, is on the cusp of adding an Olympic medal to his achievements, the color of which will be decided Saturday night.
At 20 years old and 7-foot-4, Wembanyama is considered a national hero and a key player for the San Antonio Spurs. His numbers on Thursday don’t fully reflect his impact on the game: 11 points and seven rebounds on 4-of-17 shooting. However, his defensive actions at crucial moments, such as blocking Dennis Schroder and a key assist to Yabusele, demonstrated his valuable contribution beyond the statistics. France celebrated effusively and Wembanyama was emotional in thanking the fans for their support.
