Saitama (Japan) (AFP)
An Olympic final is at hand for the French basketball players, who will have to be very strong defensively to annihilate the Slovenian firepower, taking inspiration from Captain Nicolas Batum, who once again became "Batman" at the Tokyo Games, facing the "Super Saiyan" "Luka Doncic.
The shock is scheduled for Thursday at 8:00 p.m. local (1:00 p.m. French) at the Saitama Super Arena.
Earlier in the day, the American favorites, in search of a fourth consecutive coronation, will have disjointed against Australia.
The Blues will therefore already know who will face them on Saturday.
If they win.
However, if Slovenia is a novice at this stage, for its first Games, it appears as a formidable opponent, with the prodigy Doncic.
The player who generates the most superlatives since the start of the competition, called "the best in the world" by Argentina's coach Sergio Hernandez, as stunned as he was in admiration after his 48 points against the Albiceleste last week , and "exceptional" by Vincent Collet.
Slovenian Luka Doncic, author of 48 points against Argentina, during their first round match, July 28, 2021 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Aris MESSINIS AFP / Archives
- Fighting spirit -
Star stamped NBA where he has been performing magical actions and exploits of all kinds for two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, national hero in Slovenia, the barely 22-year-old playmaker has moved into another dimension at the Games, where the entire Olympic village runs after him for the photo.
That of a "Super Saiyan", if we had to make the analogy with Japanese culture, from the manga "Dragon Ball Z" - which has long since crossed the Japanese borders - in which certain characters are transformed into "super warriors" from too much power and outbursts of anger.
Like the firm Nike, which was the first to create a "Super Saiyan x Luka Doncic" sneaker model in 2018, the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has been surfing this image on social networks since the start of the Olympic Games.
With his blond hair, his blue eyes and his imposing size (2.01 m, 104 kg) - characteristic of these characters - the Slovenian has something to impress (28.3 pts, 10.7 rbds, 7 assists on average), moved by an evident rage to win.
Slovenian Luka Doncic, in the quarter-final against Germany, on August 3, 2021 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ARIS MESSINIS AFP
The French will have to put up resistance at all times.
Exactly what Nicolas Batum did on Tuesday to discourage the inclinations of tough Italians in the quarter, finally dismissed (84-75).
Frenchman Nicolas Batum scores a basket against Italy in their quarter-final on August 3, 2021 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Gregory SHAMUS POOL / AFP
"We couldn't lose. Because of the way we lost the two quarters of the last editions (against Spain in 2012 and 2016), and the way I played (no points or rebounds in Rio) , I had to do something different ", explained the winger, who had become again at the right time" Batman ", the masked avenger that we had lost sight of for a few years.
- "Monstrous" -
This rebirth at 32 is the result of an excellent season at the Clippers, ended at the gates of the NBA Finals, after two years of moping on the bench of the Charlotte Hornets.
If his role of "glue guy" (versatile player who creates binder) in the shadow of stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in Los Angeles, suits him perfectly, he knows that he is more responsible for the France team.
Hence his debauchery of energy against the Italians, translated by an edifying statistical sheet (15 pts, 14 rebounds, record in Blue, 3 assists, 3 interceptions, 2 blocks), perhaps the most beautiful in 153 selections. .
"Monstrous" for Evan Fournier, Batum delivered "a grandiose match" for Collet.
"He was in the oven and the mill, exceptional self-sacrifice", added the coach, who hopes to see the whole team multiply in this way against the Slovenian snipers, Zoran Dragic, Jaka Blazic, Vlatko Cancar ...
"It will be necessary to find the right balance: to control Doncic, not to let him score 50 points, but without sacrificing everything", he summed up.
The joy of the French Evan Fournier, Rudy Gobert and Nicolas Batum, after their victory against Italy, in the quarter-finals, on August 3, 2021 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Aris MESSINIS AFP
Carpet in the shade until then in Tokyo, Rudy Gobert was also transmuted against Italy (22 pts, at 10/13, 9 rebounds).
So much the better, "Gobzilla" will not be too much against Luka & co.
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