It won't be gold.
But the medal is still in the crosshairs.
If only to go and win it, Ana Filip, Laetitia Guapo, Migna Touré and Marie-Eve Paget will have to recover from the disappointment that slammed them in the face and sawed off their legs this afternoon at the Aomi Park in Tokyo.
Despite his enormous debauchery of energy and his equalizer (16-16) just a minute from the gong, the French 3x3 basketball quartet saw the American selection snatch the ticket to the final, under the eyes of Prince Albert of Monaco present on the seat occupied by Emmanuel Macron last Saturday.
"I believed it," breaths Captain Ana Filip, her closed face gnawed as she struggles to contain her disappointment.
Until the end, I believed in it.
It was impossible to lose.
Even on Migna's last shoot, I believed it.
We have a very good match, but it was decided on details.
"
A funny arbitration decision
The faults which offered too many free throws to the Americans (4/7 against 1/1 to the Blue) obviously do. But the ball touched by Plum that the referees did not return to the Blue despite the request of the challenge (video) which seemed to confirm the return to French possession no doubt also played its (ugly) role. “I don't know if it's playing out on that. The ball is clearly touched, but apparently, the referee did not see it, “murmurs Migna Touré, devastated. At two hours of the small final, Ana Filip does not cry injustice. “But since the start of the competition, it's not easy for us with the referees,” said the captain. We are very often penalized. For me, as for everyone, it is the American who takes it out (note: the ball). But the referee saw something else. "
🧐 The turning point of the match?
At 16 everywhere: challenge refused, incomprehension of the 🇫🇷, and the 🇺🇸 regain the advantage behind
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It now remains for the French, devastated by this elimination at the exit of the field, to turn their heads to the place to find the strength to go for the bronze 13:45 French) against the winner of the other semi-final between Russia and China.
“We are going to isolate ourselves together, relax and let go of what there is to let go,” explains Ana Filip.
The bronze medal is no longer in talent that it is played, but in the mind.
We have to get back into it.
I don't care about the opponent, what I want is the medal.
"