The French lost, but the essential is assured. Beaten by the Americans (82-93) for their last group match at the Tokyo Olympics, the Blue have validated their ticket for the quarter-finals with this defeat by less than 14 points. Their difference in points guarantees them to finish among the best third in this group stage and to return to the Saitama Super Arena on Wednesday for the quarter-finals against an opponent still undetermined.
But after missing out on their first match (70-74) against Japan on Tuesday, Valérie Garnier’s players delivered an intense and promising match against the Olympic champions, unbeaten at the Olympics since 1992. In the lead at the end of the match. first quarter (22-19), the vice-champions of Europe never let breathe the big favorites of the tournament, already qualified, despite 31 points conceded in the second quarter.
In the fight to the end, the French even passed again at the very beginning of the final quarter on a basket of Marine Fauthoux (72-71). So, anxious not to let slip its invincibility, “team USA” accelerated a big blow to regain control of the match and ten points in advance, before managing its advantage in the last minutes and even worrying about the difference. tricolor dots on the end. But the Blue, with six players to have scored at least ten points, showed that the 2012 silver medalists should not be buried.
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