France Shocks Canada with 82-73 Victory, Advances to Semifinals in Epic Showdown

In a thrilling matchup at Bercy Arena, France stunned Canada with an impressive 82-73 victory, propelling them into the semifinals of the global basketball tournament. The atmosphere was electric, with approximately 20,000 fans chanting the French national anthem, creating a wave of patriotism that echoed throughout the venue. Victor Wembanyama, the 20-year-old phenomenon who has captured the attention of the basketball world, set the tone early by raising his arms in celebration before the game even began, signaling his confidence in his team’s potential. This defeat for Canada is a stark contrast to the expectations set before the game. Widely viewed as a gold-medal contender, Canada boasted a roster filled with ten NBA players and was fresh off a historic bronze medal win at the FIBA World Cup the previous summer. Their disappointment was palpable, especially given their long history without a men’s Olympic basketball medal, with only one silver earned in 1936. France's coach, Vincent Collet, made headlines with his surprising tactical decisions prior to the game. Opting to shake things up, he benched two of the country's most seasoned players, Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, deviating from the expected lineup. Instead, he placed his trust in Frank Ntilikina, Nic Batum, Guerschon Yabusele, Isaia Cordinier, and Wembanyama, a choice that proved to be a masterstroke. Yabusele emerged as a standout player, contributing 21 points and five rebounds, while Cordinier added 20 points. Wembanyama, while not the high scorer of the night, still made an impact with 10 rebounds in his 26 minutes on the court. The game began with France establishing dominance right from the first quarter, building an impressive 23-10 lead. Canada, known for its previously unforgiving defense, appeared tight and error-prone, managing only a 38 percent shooting rate and committing 14 turnovers. Dillon Brooks struggled notably, missing his first five attempts, finishing with a disappointing one-of-nine shooting. Jamal Murray's performance was similarly lackluster, and R.J. Barrett couldn’t spark the offense as he had in earlier games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did his best to rally his team, scoring a team-high 25 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the French onslaught. A crucial moment came just before halftime when Yabusele hit a three-pointer, extending France's lead to 45-29. This shot seemed to deflate Canada's chances, and despite some effort to mount a comeback in the second half, the French team held firm to close out the game. With this victory, France not only advances to the semifinals but also positions itself as a formidable contender for a medal. They will now prepare to face Germany on Thursday, with hopes of securing only the country's fourth medal in men’s basketball at the Olympics in 12 appearances, and the first since their bronze medal win in 2020. As the tournament heats up, all eyes will be on the French team and their rising star, Wembanyama, to see if they can continue their pursuit of glory on the international stage.