24.5 points and 30.0 average rating. Best scorer in the Olympic tournament, best blocker, Emma Meesemman served as public enemy number one for the French team. A team that eliminated it in the semi-final of the last EuroBasket after showing individual strength: 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 interceptions and 3 blocks! One of the best players in the world carries the European champions on his shoulders and their future in the Olympic side depends on the ability of the Tricolores to stop him.
Three minutes is enough to understand that the problem can be complicated to solve. Six points in a row to start the game and Jean-Aimé Toupane had to change his plans quickly, quickly throwing Iliana Rupert on the field. The coach almost choked when he noticed the moments when his players were absent, especially when the defense retreated. The dismissals punished the Belgian Cats, happy to witness the vain bombing of the Bleues away (0/8 from three points at the start) and who are dangerously comfortable (10-17).
In the great difficulty of a set game, France found, as always, its safety in its aggressiveness in passing lines. Interceptions quickly launched the game, balls snatched from hands made the Belgians suddenly quiet. Valériane Ayayi’s campaign began with a 12-0 straddling two quarters. Meeseman and his teammates went seven minutes without scoring a basket but staying alive at the free throw line. And when the weight of mistakes pushed the Blues to relax their grip, they seized the opportunity to attack the circle again. In a series game their 2-18 took them from -11 to +5 at the break.
Like Marine Johannès (1/8), France went through a terrible desert of skill (26%), inevitably fatal against a team that closes the racket with a double turn. The drought would continue until they were left behind by 15 points before Gabby Williams found a few centimeters of freedom, taking out Marine Fauthoux and Janelle Salaün in her wake. The technical staff probably did not need to whisper in the ear of the ASVEL winger in the locker room that without his multi-card production, his team would not be good. He remains the main creator and it is his aggressiveness that breathes new life into a close attack.
In an unreadable battle the Blues turned the tide, pushed by a suddenly hot Bercy who blasted a shot at the buzzer from Ayayi as the money time approached (58-53). Dominant in offensive rebounding, they continued to pressure making it difficult to pass the ball. But Meeseman found the passes to increase the tension as the seconds ticked away. The tension reached its peak when Meeseman tied the game with a winning shot 8 seconds from the clock to send the game into overtime.
Five more minutes were completely launched by Williams, who was more clutch than before, who took the responsibility of scoring 8 points in the period.
Like the men, the women succeeded in their bet. They will compete in the final of the Olympic Games this Sunday afternoon. Delirious with joy, they spoke to the public for a long time, seeking a few grams of tenderness from their loved ones before returning to their final challenge against the invincible Americans.