France – Japan. After an excellent start to the match, especially in defence, the French had a soft spot but were able to recover to keep control of the match (29-26). Follow the match between Les Bleues and Japan live.
09:05 – Interception by Fauthoux (39-35)
Fauthoux intercepts a ball in front of Yasuma and goes off to score alone on the counterattack (39-35).
09:04 – Hirashita’s answer
Unprepared, Hirashita takes the ball and arms without question. Rupert is surprised and can only stare at the three-point rainbow from the Japanese who responds very nicely (37-35).
09:03 – Rupert scores from afar (37-32)
After a Williams-Michel exchange, the captain of Les Bleues shifts Rupert behind the arc in the left corner. The French scores on the nose of Okoye, late at the start (37-32).
09:01 – Star anise somehow
In isolation, Gabby Williams pretends to go alone and serves with her back to the basket Badiane. The interior plays with her physique to wrap around Takada and conclude with a little academic but effective hook (34-32).
08:59 – The Miyazaki problem
Miyazaki gives the tempo to the Japanese attacks and the rhythm is good to hinder the French. This time, the leader goes it alone, advancing in front of Rupert to conclude with a floater (32-32).
08:58 – Foul by Williams (32-30)
Ball in hand, Williams attacks the circle but dismisses his vis-à-vis with his elbow. Offensive fault against the Frenchwoman who then signs an interception on the right of the circle (32-30).
08:57 – Chartereau finds success (32-28)
Chartereau makes the effort to get out of the defense and isolates himself behind the arc on the left. Alone, she takes her time to take good care of her shot which finds the string (32-28).
08:56 – Star anise trapped (29-28)
Under the circle, Badiane takes a double step but is trapped on the left of the circle by Tokashiki. The interior is being countered. Luckily, the Japanese missed their attack and did not take the lead (29-28).
08:55 – Star anise decisive in defense
After a missed shot in attack, Badiane catches up in defense where she signs a counter. We remain at 29-26.
08:55 – Pick up in Sydney
The game resumes on the Sydney side with a throw-in from Gabby Williams for Fauthoux.
08:41 – France take the lead at the break (29-26)
First half-hearted period for the France team. Perfectly entered into their match, with a stifling defense which will have limited the Japanese to 5 points, the Blue experienced a real air pocket in the heart of the 2nd quarter time conceding a guilty 0-10, not helped by attacking choices doubtful. Gabby Williams and her teammates, still clumsy at three points (1/10) were able to raise their heads and finish well to maintain a small advantage of three points (29-26). Muzzled at the start of the match, the Japanese have found rhythm in attack and will present a constant danger for the future.
08:40 – Tadic at half distance (29-24)
Less than a minute from the break, Tadic found an open position at mid-distance and scored his first shot of the day (29-24).
08:39 – Gabby Williams in check (27-24)
Gabby Williams plays the action solo and gets dragged on her right hand. His finish is right against Mawuli (27-24).
08:37 – Chery too fair
Chery breaks free behind the arc after good screen work from Rupert. Served by Fauthoux, she shoots open but her ball lacks strength (27-23).
08:36 – Rupert presents on the rebound (27-21)
Touré dribbles and penetrates to try to score near the left hand circle but is short. Under the basket, Rupert takes advantage of his height to pick up the offensive rebound and score from close range (27-21).
08:34 – Touré lights up at 3 points (25-21)
Just over two minutes from the end of the first period, Touré finds the opening three points. In traffic, Fauthoux sees his teammate open to his left and serves her. The shot is perfectly executed, it is the first successful at long distance (25-21).
08:33 – Seule, Everything is rate
Big oversight in defense where Todo finds himself completely alone on the left behind the arc. The Japanese takes her time to arm but her shot is short and ricochets off the circle without her being able to take the rebounds.
08:31 – Williams loses the ball
Tokashiki misses one of his two throws. On the comeback, Gabby Williams goes into penetration and wants to come out on Badiane on the left but her pass is missed and goes into touch. Toupane timeout (22-21).
08:30 – Williams relieves the Blues (22-20)
Taking advantage of the good screen work in the painting of Rupert, Williams takes his time and rises to 5 meters to finally give points to the Blue, who had just cashed a 0-10.
08:28 – The Japanese equalize (20-20)
The French no longer find a solution in attack where Gabby Williams is in check and the ball turns less well. On the other side of the field, the defense took on water like this last three-point shot from Mawuli recovered on the rebound by the Japanese. The ball came out on Hirashita who lights up from afar and equalizes (20-20). France has just collected 10 points without putting any.
08:26 – Three points for Miyazaki (20-15)
Far behind the arc on the left, Miyazaki finally finds the target for the Japanese and brings his own down to -5 (20-15).
08:25 – Fauthoux taken in size
Bottom line, Fauthoux finds himself with the game of screens against Mawuli. The interior takes advantage of its centimeters to push the Habs (20-12).
08:23 – Akaho between two waters
Present on the rebound on a missed long shot, Akaho stands out with an air ball, poor at this level of competition. The Japanese is like her teammates, in great difficulty in attack (20-8).
08:22 – Good streak from Williams
Gabby Williams takes responsibility at the start of the second quarter. The French winger signs two authoritative shots and allows the Blues to lead (20-6).
08:17 – Les Bleues fly over the first quarter (16-5)
Dream first quarter for the French. Without being extraordinary, the Blues were able to impose a lot of defensive pressure on the Japanese, completely thwarting them. The Olympic vice-champions only managed 2 shots and are completely suffocated by serious French women. In attack, the latter were also conscientious, alternating the ball outside and inside.
