NEW YORK (USA) - The USA v Spain Olympic Gold Medal Game showdowns that the Americans won in 2008 and 2012 captured everyone's imagination.

The end-to-end action was compelling and riveting, and the outcomes of both contests were not decided until the very end.

The USA, who also edged Spain in a 2004 Olympic Quarter-Final thriller and a 2016 Olympic Semi-Final, considered Pau Gasol and Co as their biggest hurdles to clear. They were their biggest rivals.

Now, the Americans' nemesis is France.

That much is obvious after what transpired at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China, and at last summer's Olympics in Tokyo.

Les Bleus not only beat the three-time defending world champions in two of the three games. They did so with convincing displays, in the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup 2019, 89-79, and 83-76 on Opening Day in Tokyo last summer. That defeat in Tokyo was the USA's first since at the Olympics since 2004 in Athens.

The USA later defeated the French, 87-82, in the Gold Medal Game, one of the best and most competitive in Olympic history.

France, judging from USA superstar Kevin Durant's comments to the ETCs podcast, have clearly gotten under the skin of the Americans.

"It's just something about that France team, they beat us in the Olympics," he said. "I just don’t like any one of them. I respect them and they're all great dudes and if I see them off the court, I’ll give them a big hug but it's like, it's just one of those teams or players I just don't like."

"IT'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THAT FRANCE TEAM, THEY BEAT US IN THE OLYMPICS. I JUST DON'T LIKE ANY ONE OF THEM..."

France's confidence skyrocketed with the two wins.

France's NBA sharpshooter, Evan Fournier, who played well in all three of the games against the USA, said after his team's Group Phase victory in Japan: "They are better individually but they can be beaten as a team."

Durant sandwiched between teammate Jayson Tatum and Gobert in Tokyo

Draymond Green admitted after the Olympics that the second consecutive defeat to the French had stung the Americans.

As a guest on What's In Your Glass? with Carmelo Anthony, Green reflected: "So when we lost that first game, it felt like the world was ending.

"Because France beat the world championship team in 2019, and although none of us played on that team, you still hear that and you still feel that when you're a part of Team USA.

"So, when they beat us the first game, you hear everybody talking about how much the world has caught up to the United States. ..."

The USA did have the last laugh, or celebration, by capturing gold in Japan.

But France, who missed 11 free-throws in that game, believe they could have, and maybe should have, reached the top of the podium.

Durant looked up at Gobert after the French center's rim-rocking jam

Rudy Gobert, the France center and Utah Jazz sensation, said in an interview with Bleacher Report:  "I love the competitiveness. I think in a way, it's cool that Team USA is finally getting mad at a team. Because they used to kick everyone's a– since basketball started."

FIBA