France and Germany will cross paths again this Thursday in a much-awaited rematch at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Germany won in group play over France, but it could be a different story this time around, with the latter out for revenge – and a ticket to the next round. Will France send Germany home? Or, will Germany embarrass France again?

Catch this game live on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 11:30 PM, Manila time

Away: France (3-1)

Projected Starting Five:

• Matthew Strazel 
• Evan Fournier 
• Nicolas Batum 
• Isaia Cordinier 
• Victor Wembanyama 

Even though France practically benched Rudy Gobert in the quarterfinal matchup against Canada, Les Bleus still came through with an 82-73 victory to punch their tickets into the semifinal portion of the tournament in Paris. Gobert saw action for only a little under four minutes and had zero points and just a rebound. It was reported that he had a finger injury and that France sat him due to matchup issues. 

Nevertheless, France got the win, with the likes of Isaia Cordinier and Guerschon Yabusele stepping up big time, combining for 42 points. France also survived Canada despite Victor Wembanyama scoring just seven points on a 2/10 shooting from the floor. Wemby is still a big threat, though, and he’ll be a walking mismatch against Germany which let unicorn Giannis Antetokoumpo score 22 points on 9/14 shooting in the quarterfinals. The San Antonio Spurs star had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds in an 85-71 loss last week to Germany.

Also don’t forget about Evan Fournier, who turned into Prime MJ when France needed buckets the most late in the game versus Canada. He finished with 15 points and a 3/6 line from deep.

Home: Germany (4-0)

Projected Starting Five:

• Dennis Schroder 
• Franz Wagner 
• Andreas Obst 
• Johannes Voigtmann 
• Daniel Theis 

Germany is tough. Dennis Schroder and company are passing each test in Paris in a convincing fashion. They defeated Japan by 20 points, Brazil by 13 points, and France by 14 points in group play before taking down Antetokounmpo and Greece in the quarterfinals, 76-63. Germany feels it can beat anyone in the tournament, especially France. In the German’s win over the host team, Franz Wagner and Schroder erupted for 26 points each. 

The reigning FIBA World Cup champs also had a field day behind the arc, as they drained 46.2% (12/26) of their 3-point attempts. And even though France had the combo of Wemby and Gobert, Germany outrebounded the French, 36-29. It seems that Germany’s physical play is neutralizing France’s size advantage and that could work to Die Mannschaft’s favor anew this Thursday. In the first meeting, Germany had 10 steals to just four by France and also outscored Wemby & Co. in the paint, 34-26. Those are big telling factors about how Germany will approach this all-important rematch against France.

Picks

Spread: Germany (-5.0)

Over/Under: Under (157.5)