Saitama (Japan) (AFP)

It was not the "Grande Bellezza", but the "Dolce Vita" continues: the French basketball players fought to remove Italy (84-75) from their road to the semi-finals and offer themselves two medal chances Olympic Games in Tokyo on Tuesday in Saitama.

When we have Nicolas "Batman" Batum and Rudy "Gobzilla" Gobert at full speed in his team, it is possible to envisage a favorable outcome, especially with Evan Fournier to ensure the offensive performance (21 pts).

Yet this victory was hard to win to go to the last four!

The course of the French, animated with a quiet force and perfect until then, continues after three victories in the group stage, in particular the resounding one against the United States, which had offered them a first place synonymous with a favorable draw. .

He avoided them crossing Spain, their executioner of the last two Games at the same stage, which had also just been eliminated just before by Team USA.

This favorable alignment of the planets in front, they hope, will lead to something brilliant in the land of the rising sun, will now have to cross the shower of Slovenian asteroids, which promises much turbulence with the star Luka Doncic as a bonus, from Thursday to the next round.

Especially if they commit as many ball losses in attack (20) as against the Azzurri.

- Gobert at 360 -

But Vincent Collet's players confirmed that they were well armed to pursue their Olympic destiny, despite headwinds and an Italy that the coach knew "dangerous as a last-minute guest", after her victory in the tournament. qualification (TQO) in Serbia, and ready for a fight at all times.

This was confirmed on the floor of the Super Arena, while the French thought they had done the hardest in the third quarter, during which they escaped the score, their lead peaking at 14 points.

During these minutes of great intensity, Batum was a captain showing the example in defense, blocking and intercepting all the time.

He finished with 14 rebounds, 3 interceptions, 2 blocks and by no means negligible, 15 points including a basket behind the arc which restarted the blue machine in the 4th quarter.

Rudy Gobert's 360 ° dunk against Italy in the quarter-final of the Tokyo Games in Saitama, August 3, 2021 Thomas COEX AFP

The other strong man was Rudy Gobert, finally at the level expected of him in these Olympics, dominating in the racket, dissuasive in defense, determined in attack.

The pivot finished top scorer after a 360-degree dunk to close the mark after a final rebound from Batum.

Smiles were finally in order, as this last period has slowly but surely seen the Italians come back to height.

Precisely because the defense momentarily relaxed and the offensives were not lethal.

Lessons to be learned.

Because Slovenia will not forgive.

© 2021 AFP