Dream matchup: United States, France square off for Olympic gold

PARIS — United States coach Steve Kerr poked his head out of the locker room Thursday to see the fourth quarter of the first men’s basketball semifinal between France and Germany.

He retrieved his phone from his pocket and pressed record.

“The crowd was incredible,” Kerr said. “They kept playing that European anthem that I can’t get out of my head. Everybody was just bouncing around. I literally took my phone out and videoed the crowd because it was so special, just to see the energy and the enthusiasm.

“And obviously, it will be even louder on Saturday night. I can’t wait. I think it’s going to be one of the most fun games I’ll ever be part of.”

The Paris Olympics got its dream final, the showdown everyone wanted to see, when France recovered from an early deficit to beat Germany in the first semifinal and then Kerr’s U.S. team of superstars roared back from 17 down to beat Serbia.

Wild, crazy, insane are probably insufficient adjectives to describe the atmosphere inside Bercy Arena for France’s two knockout stage games. Saturday promises to be something beyond that, if it is indeed possible.

“The atmosphere is going to be incredible,” French center and NBA veteran Rudy Gobert said. “It’s what you dream of as a kid. I remember it like it was yesterday, dreaming about seeing myself playing in the final at home in the Olympics. Now we’re here. … Let’s get ready for battle.”

France beat the Americans in group play three years ago in the Tokyo Olympics, then lost, 87-82, in the final. But they have been up and down since, finishing 18th at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and struggling in group play here — barely beating Japan and losing to Germany by 14.

They rank 10th in the 12-team Olympic tournament in scoring at 79.6 points per game — 27 points behind the Americans. They’re ninth in 3-point accuracy at 33.3%.

It’s a roster between generations, other than 20-year-old NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama. The other four starters are 26, 27, 28 and 35. The rotation pieces off the bench are 28, 31, 32 and 34 — and that includes Gobert, who broke a finger and has barely played.

Help is on the way. Three of the top six picks in the NBA draft this summer are French: No. 1 Zaccharie Risacher, No. 2 Alex Sarr and No. 6 Tidjane Salaun.

In the meantime, Les Bleus must make due with a hodgepodge of washed-up NBA players, guys plying their trade in Europe and the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, compensating in cohesion and crowd support what they lack in talent and depth.

Their leading scorers against Germany were Guerschon Yabusele (17 points) and Isaia Cordinier (16). The 6-9, 271-pound Yabusele was the No. 16 pick by the Boston Celtics in 2016, played parts of two seasons with them, went to China, went back to France and now is at Spanish power Real Madrid. The 6-6 Cordinier, currently with Italy’s Virtus Bologna, has spent his entire professional career in Europe.

“Look at those two,” Fournier said, motioning toward Yabusele and Cordinier. “They’re not NBA players. They’re not on all-Euro League teams. But they were our two best players the last two games, because they’re basketball players. This is FIBA (international) basketball. It’s different.

“You’ve got to be able to play team basketball.”

Wembanyama has been as advertised, averaging 13.8 points and 13.7 rebounds in five Olympic games while leading the tournament in blocks.

After the semifinal against Germany, he was asked about blood stains on his jersey from a scratch on his neck.

“In our national anthem, we talk about blood,” Wembanyama said, towering over a group of journalists. “We’re willing to spill blood (for the nation), so it’s no big deal. If it allows us to win gold, I’m willing to do it.”

The intangibles, then, are on their side: fierce national pride and a rabid crowd reminding them of that. The U.S. should know what’s coming. Center Joel Embiid, who speaks French and qualifies for French citizenship, reportedly requested a passport with the intent of representing Les Bleus only to choose Team USA instead. French fans have booed him heartily here every time he touches the ball.

Is a wildly partisan home crowd incessantly chanting “Allez, Les Bleus,” enough, though?

“I mean, they are the most talented team in the world,” Gobert said of the Americans. “They have a team of Hall of Famers, a team full of guys who changed the game of basketball. It’s the most talented team in the tournament.

“But anything is possible, in basketball and in life. We have a chance.”