This Thursday July 5 will again be placed under the sign of team sports with a place in the final for handball, basketball and volleyball players.
Handball: the Blues facing the Egyptian trap (10am)
After having crushed Bahrain (42-28), it is a team diametrically opposed to the Blues who are on their way to the Olympic title. Unlike the old French guys, this surprising young team was not at all expected at this stage of the competition, often the preserve of European teams. Authoritarian against an outdated German team (31-26), Nikola Karabatic’s teammates will have to be wary of the rough defense of the Egyptians led by their goalkeeper, Karim Hendawy (18 saves at 41% success against the Germans).
Basketball: The French collective facing the prodigy Luka Doncic (1 p.m.)
After having hardly imposed themselves against Italy in the quarter-finals (84-75), Nicolas Batum’s teammates will have to increase their level of play and above all limit the loss of balls against the Slovenes, easy winners of Germany ( 94-70). For the Blues, the main danger is called Luka Doncic, author of 48 points for his first game at the Games, the young prodigy (22 years old) has simply never lost a match with his selection. However, be careful not to underestimate the collective of the Slovenes, European champions in 2017 who woke up against Spain when their young leader was in difficulty (victory 95-87).
Volleyball: After the exploit, the confirmation? (France-Argentina, 2 p.m.)
After dropping Poland, big favorite, in five sets (21-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 15-9), the Blues of Earvin Ngapeth must take their revenge against Argentina who had beaten them in the group stage (23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 15-25, 15-13). For that, the Blues will be able to count on Ngapeth but also on Jean Patry (21 points against Poland) who asserts himself more and more as a taulier of this Team of France. Accustomed to the blows of brilliance, this team of France will have this time to assume this new status of outsider without flinching.
Climbing: Mawem forever the first? (10:30 am / 11:30 am / 12:10 pm)
While climbing has just made its appearance among Olympic sports, France has the opportunity to glean a first medal. The French should even have been two with Mickael’s brother, Bassa, who finished first in the speed qualifications (5”45, Olympic record). Unfortunately, the Frenchman had to forfeit after injuring his left bicep. This final will perhaps see the coronation of a Mawem but not the one we expected. The French will play the combined speed at 10:30 am, the boulder at 11:30 am and the difficulty at 12:10 pm.
Decathlon: Meyer, redemption? (last test 2:10 p.m.)
After a disappointing fifth place at the end of the first day, Kevin Mayer will have to do better to try to grab the podium in the decathlon. Deprived and in tears after announcing his back injury, the world record holder is far from his usual lap times. With his 3540 points, the Frenchman is still behind Warner (3788 points), Moloney (3647 pts) and Lepage (3567 pts). Fortunately for him, the event ends with the javelin and the 1500m, two events where the Frenchman is usually quite comfortable, hoping that his injury will not play tricks on him at crucial moments.
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