FRA – Noah, Bleus are oh so close to London

KAUNAS (EuroBasket 2011) - The moment of truth has arrived for France.

On Friday, with a spot in the London Olympics at stake, Les Bleus will go up against Russia at the EuroBasket in Lithuania.

If France win, they will set up a title showdown with either Spain or F.Y.R. of Macedonia on Sunday and seal a place at the London Games.

If France lose, they will play in the EuroBasket bronze medal game and compete at next year’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Getting to London has been the stated mission of France since the team's crushing loss to Slovenia at EuroBasket 2007 in Spain.

That 88-74 defeat condemned France to an eighth-place finish and caused them to miss the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

One player to make a big impact for France this summer is Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, the son of 1983 French Open champion Yannick Noah.

Noah has been starting and averaging 7.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in Lithuania.

When asked about the London Games, he said to FIBA.com: "The more I hear people talking about the Olympics, the more I want to play in them.

"This is what it's all about and why everybody is out there.

"This is why all these NBA players are out here representing their countries.

"They want to be able to be able to play at the Olympics.

"What a great life achievement to say you played at the Olympics and got to experience that and got to stay in the village.”

On the evidence of Thursday’s action, though, Russia may have an edge going into the game against France.

The Russians were led by their NBA star, Andrei Kirilenko, and won 77-67 over Serbia to stay unbeaten.

France, meanwhile, did not impress at all.

Greece, who came back from a large deficit to beat France in the Semi-Finals of EuroBasket 2005 before capturing the gold medal, nearly upset the French again.

They executed coach Ilias Zouros’ game-plan to near perfection and led for much of the game.

Noah suffered a cut on the bridge of his nose and had blood pouring trickling down his face, forcing him to leave the game for several minutes.

He eventually returned and, with his father and other members of his family looking on inside the Kauno Arena, helped France come good in the fourth quarter.

They scraped a 64-56 win.

FIBA