![France vs Germany]()
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.
https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1821601914716353014
https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1821603329476305031
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.
https://twitter.com/bijan_todd/status/1821594672814231996
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.
https://twitter.com/SonicsMuse/status/1821599100154081434
The prevailing sentiment in the end was that Germany got more than a little hosed.
https://twitter.com/Goodmans_takes/status/1821602558009569741
https://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status/1821596694842114487
https://twitter.com/RyanRosenblatt/status/1821601309784490267
https://twitter.com/TruBaneVirgo/status/1821603481071055132
https://twitter.com/langleyatl/status/1821600681439953141
https://twitter.com/zhutkamen/status/1821597376827555845
https://twitter.com/ballineurope/status/1821581741288726569
https://twitter.com/zachsullyNBA/status/1821597354027323471
https://twitter.com/ItalianGumboA3A/status/1821592772375458071
https://twitter.com/CuffsTheLegend/status/1821599587573833985
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.
