OLYW - Jubilant France face powerhouse USA

LONDON (OIympics) - The way France’s women celebrated after their 81-64 triumph over Russia on Thursday night, one might have thought they’d just won the gold medal at the London Games.

What the victory did, in fact, was put the French, who are competing in the Olympics for just the second time, in the title game and ensure they will leave Britain with at least a silver.

A showdown with the United States in the 48 hours was certainly the least of Pierre Vincent's concerns in the aftermath of the success against Russia.

“I’m going to party,” he said.

“It’s an exceptional moment in time for us and we’re going to make the most of it.”

Vincent and Les Bleues, one of the teams that made it through the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women (OQTW), spent all of Friday getting ready for the game against the superpowers of women's basketball, the United States.

The USA won their 40th straight contest at Olympic Games on Thursday against Australia, 86-73.

Their last defeat at an Olympics was in the Semi-Finals of the 1992 Barcelona Games to the Commonwealth of Independent States.

"I have told my players ahead of the game that this is a unique moment," Vincent said.

"The Americans are untouchables and the Australians are the only ones that have been able to bother them and they did so.

"We have nothing to lose."

A 41st consecutive triumph will give the USA their fifth consecutive gold medal in the competition.

“We think about it,” USA star Seimone Augustus said.

“We know the history.

“I had an opportunity to play with Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson and all those players.

“They paved the way for us.

“It’s just a joy and an honor to be in this position, to hopefully keep the legacy going for USA Basketball.”

The two sides met in 2010 at the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic and France held their own for much of the physical contest before falling, 81-60.

Geno Auriemma's USA team then marched to the gold medal.

France’s only win against the USA was in 1971 at the World Championship in Sao Paulo.

The leading figure for this French team has been Celine Dumerc, the Bourges point guard who is playing the best basketball of her career.

She is averaging 15.1 points per game and has been hitting one clutch shot after another.

Having nailed an unworldly 57.7% (15 of 26) of her three-pointers in London, including a one at the overtime buzzer to beat hosts Great Britain, Dumerc has been France’s most important player and maybe the MVP of the London Games.

Sue Bird, after the Americans’ win over Australia, said: “They seem to have a buzz about them right now.

“They seem to be playing with a lot of confidence.

“They’re a team nobody really talked about heading into the tournament, but personally I knew that was going to be a team we might have to face.”

FIBA