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France’s #32 Victor Wembanyama defends against Canada’s #24 Dillon Brooks in the men’s basketball quarterfinals at the Bercy Arena in Paris on August 6, 2024. DAMIEN MEYER/AFPFrance defeated previously unbeaten Canada 82-73 on Tuesday, August 6, to advance to the men’s Olympic basketball semi-finals against Germany.

Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier filled in for a subdued Victor Wembanyama, helping France create an early lead that it never gave up. Yabusele led the way for the hosts with 22 points, while Cordinier contributed 20. Evan Fournier scored 15 points and Mathias Lessort added 13 as Wembanyama was limited to seven, but he still pulled down 12 rebounds. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Canada with 27 points, while RJ Barrett added 16.

France will meet Germany for the second time in less than a week on Thursday, after losing 85-71 to the World Cup champions in Lille last Friday. Canada went undefeated in the group phase, but they were quickly outmatched as France stormed ahead 23-10 in the opening quarter.

An overview shows (clockwise from left) Canada’s #4. Jamal Murray, France’s number 26 Mathias Lessort, Canada’s #92 Khem Birch, and France’s #08 Isaia Cordinier look at the ball as France scores during the men’s quarterfinal basketball match between France and Canada at the Bercy Arena in Paris on August 6, 2024. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/AFPCordinier enthralled the Bercy Arena crowd with a thunderous dunk and a string of threes, and Yabusele found his stride early on as Wembanyama struggled. Wembanyama struggled offensively, missing all five attempts from the field in the first half and making only two of four free throws.

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Full of momentum.Barrett, who averaged 21 points in the group stage, picked up his third foul before halftime, adding to Canada’s woes. Yabusele buried another three to send a swaggering France into the interval full of confidence, in stark contrast to a few days earlier when Lille fans whistled after a terrible first half against Germany. Cordinier pushed the lead to 19 at the start of the third period, but Gilgeous-Alexander ignited Canada’s comeback, cutting the deficit to single digits.

Wembanyama scored his first field goal with 11 minutes remaining, but Canada rallied to within five. That signalled the moment Fournier, who had been chastised by his coach Vincent Collet for public comments about the team’s tactics following the Germany loss, stepped up to put Canada away down the stretch.

The NBA veteran scored 12 points in the last quarter alone, including a long three with the shot clock running down, giving Tokyo silver medallists France the opportunity to set the record straight against Germany.