The French full-back made a very difficult shot at the end of the match which confirmed France’s victory against Canada in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
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It was impossible to make out his words precisely at that moment, but they came straight from his heart. With 55 seconds left in the quarter-final against Canada on Tuesday, August 6, as the Canadians were getting dangerously close, Evan Fournier came to say stop. With an exceptional three-point shot, the guard sealed his team’s victory (82-73), and punched the Blues’ ticket to the semi-finals.
The conclusion of an evening where he chained together big long-distance shots (3/6 from three points) to contribute to France’s collective success. “I’m happy! It was euphoric. It was to make the public ‘enjoy’ because their reaction was heavy. It was the fun moment of the match”he explained afterwards, his tone relieved. “Wow… amazing! But that’s Evan.”added Guerschon Yabusele, still stunned.
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In fact, for him, it’s almost a liberation. After two difficult years in New York, where he was transferred to Detroit before finally being cut at the end of June, the Frenchman was counting on these Olympic Games to get his health back. “I’m not going to lie, I’m not in the best mental frame of mind, but that’s part of being an athlete.”he admitted before the competition.
Having gone from starting for the Knicks to being completely sidelined, the guard has had his day. But the call of the French team resonates differently in him. “I’m coming out of two difficult years, I still don’t have a club. But the challenge of these Olympics is something you miss. I’m going to shine thanks to that. There’s nothing else that matters right now except winning something with France.”he continued.
Listening to his teammates, they all seemed happy for him, who never hid even in times of doubt. “Evan is a winner, a competitor. In the important moments, he responds.”insists Rudy Gobert. “He was good, he made the big shots at the end, he showed who he is. This guy deserves to have a job very quickly”supports Captain Nicolas Batum.
“It’s a testament to the evening, it’s a shot that comes from the heart. Evan was hot, he deserves it.”
Frank Ntilikinato franceinfo: sport
After his outburst on the French team’s style of play which was blown out of proportion, the full-back was keen to put it behind him, his coach and the group.“When I said that, it was just to move things forward. I have confidence in Vincent, the staff, the players. Maybe I’m talking nonsense but I think it helped us!” he said in the mixed zone on Tuesday evening.What happened in the media was in the media. Evan and Vincent, there was no problem between them. We all trust him. Evan, he’s crazy. That’s why we love him, he never loses confidence in himself.”defends Mathias Lessort.
This shot also came to free a group that has already been through a lot of emotions, and that few imagined at such a party on Friday, against the third of the last World Cup.Everything we’ve been through in the last few weeks has allowed us to be the team we are today. When adversity came, we didn’t separate ourselves, we never lost confidence.”recalls Rudy Gobert.
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Nicolas Batum, for his part, is keen to point out that this French team is also built through pain, with different generations who have rubbed shoulders and developed together for several years. “We’re a team of thoroughbreds, of guys who are on edge, of competitors. That’s what we are.”sums up the captain of the Blues.
As if to put out the fire that started with this media release and the heavy defeat against Germany. “We get into each other’s heads, we tell each other the truth, we talk to each other. We’ve had our ups, we’ve had our downs, we’ve had our fights, but in the end, we all love each other no matter what. And it showed tonight.”adds Nicolas Batum. Germany will be the opponent in the semi-final. But this version of France can believe in it. “It’s going to be a fight, a war. We have to be ready to give back 40 minutes of madness.”concludes Guerschon Yabusele.