Olympic semi-final: USA 95 Serbia 91 Blue binds them. First Antoine Dupont was the Olympics poster boy, then Léon Marchand. Now the front pages of the Paris newspapers laud the march of the tribes.
The final week of the Olympics is all about their teams. On Thursday, France beat Germany 73-69 at a heaving Bercy Arena to advance to the men’s Olympic basketball gold medal match against USA. It marks the latest in a stunning run by the host country.
That morning the L’Equipe headline hailed their collective efforts: “Teams Solides.” The “strong teams” banner was cast over a picture of the men’s volleyball and women’s basketball victors side-by-side. They won their respective semi-final and quarter-final to strengthen omnipresent national pride.
This joy at victory warrants a sharp pain at its inescapable foe. Le Parisien spelt out both sides of the game’s coin with their headline: “Si Beau, Si Cruel.” What exactly was so beautiful, so cruel? The men’s handballers were edged out by three in their quarter-final against Germany.
For great emotional investments to truly pay off there must be a price as well. This is sport’s only law. Leading the march are French icons.
Thierry Henry’s France face Spain in the gold medal football match on Friday. The basketballers have sensation Victor Wembanyama in their midst. He was the number one NBA draft pick last year; he is the 2024 Rookie of the Year.
A 7-foot-4 alien who is already being touted as the future fa.