However it needed to happen, trust that the vast majority of casual Summer Olympics watchers and basketball fans wanted the men’s hoops Gold Medal Game to feature Team USA against Victor Wembanyama and the home French squad.
Having watched Thursday’s semifinal duel between France and Germany, though, you can’t help but think the hosts got more than a few friendly whistles to get France to the grand finale.
FRANCE MEN'S BASKETBALL TAKES DOWN GERMANY.
THEY'LL PLAY FOR A GOLD MEDAL IN FRONT OF A HOME CROWD! 🇫🇷👏 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/rPAFaPs3XO
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024
After Tokyo 2020, France 🇫🇷 are returning to the #Olympics podium once again in their homeland!
🥈 in Tokyo
❓ in Paris#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/vQr9xKYwx4— FIBA (@FIBA) August 8, 2024
The FIBA referee crew on the scene for this gritty international matchup was kind of just incompetent to begin with. They botched at least one call in favor of the German side, but on several other critical possessions, it seemed as if France got preferential treatment.
These refs for France-Germany…do not know basketball rules lol.
1: Germany incorrectly gets called for a 24-sec violation even though the ball hit the rim and they got the rebound
2: Refs give Germany 2 points anyways (for a bucket that was never scored)
3: France gets ball🥴 pic.twitter.com/t0LUNlnxuP
— Bijan Todd (@bijan_todd) August 8, 2024
One crucial play in particular saw German guard Dennis Schroder go up for a shot, only to get denied by Wemby on the way up. Refs tagged Schroder with a traveling call and a turnover, despite the fact that he seemed to lose control of the ball.
Very true.
Schroder call should’ve been a foul & not a travel.
— SonicsMuse (@SonicsMuse) August 8, 2024
The prevailing sentiment in the end was that Germany got more than a little hosed.
Loose ball foul? wtf are the refs doing here. This is the 2nd absolute blown call in the final 2 min. This game should be going to OT…France may be the worst team to ever make the final. I’m dead serious. https://t.co/HbUmSpOByB
— MidRange Auto 24 (@Goodmans_takes) August 8, 2024
Nothing makes you appreciate NBA refs like FIBA refs. Yabusele threw the ball to himself and then threw it out of bounds and the ref two feet away is like "France ball"
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) August 8, 2024
The US better beat France by at least 20 points because FIBA refs are giving them 19
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) August 8, 2024
Refs wanted France in the Gold Medal game by any means necessary. https://t.co/HYIB8k3ley
— Tru To The Game (@TruBaneVirgo) August 8, 2024
Some UNREAL home-cooking from the France refs today 💀
Gotta feel for Germany man…
— Zach Langley (@langleyatl) August 8, 2024
Never seen worse refs than this france germany game in my life https://t.co/raeuJvPAPl
— David (@zhutkamen) August 8, 2024
Germany definitely having some ball security issues but the refs are definitely leaning a bit more towards the hosts
— Ball in Europe (@ballineurope) August 8, 2024
These refs in the Germany France game should legit be investigated. France is playing 8 on 5.
— Zach (@zachsullyNBA) August 8, 2024
The fact that France rigged their own Olympics to have their basketball team playing in the final is just awful should’ve lost to Japan and Canada and got serious helps from the refs now their beating Germany sure sure makes total sense
— ItalianGumbo3A3 (@ItalianGumboA3A) August 8, 2024
the refs in this France vs Germany game 🤣 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/7zXovlyIeK
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) August 8, 2024
Now here’s the thing: The Americans have to take care of business in the semifinals against Nikola Jokic and Serbia, but you better believe the refs will lean the USA’s way if this France-Germany situation is anything to go off of. What Olympic-hosting nation wouldn’t want a crack at the beyond-reproach best team, the American team, in their house, with one of the most transcendent young talents the sport has ever seen in Wembanyama leading their charge?
I will be gobsmacked if Jokic knocks off Team USA, or if Wemby somehow wills the French to victory in the eventual gold medal clash. Whatever the outcome, France is guaranteed a spot on the podium in men’s basketball. Big ups to their team, too, for making it happen amid a Wembanyama shooting slump, where he’s made just six of his last 27 shots from the field in the last two contests. Plus, Rudy Gobert is giving France next to nothing. Color me sarcastically shocked.
Come on, basketball gods (and FIBA refs). Give us Wemby vs. Team USA. And maybe then, if at no other time, call a somewhat fair game.
