LADIES BASKETBALL: TEAM USA UNSTOPPABLE?

We have arrived at the quarter final stage if the ladies Olympic basketball Tournament in Paris. We will take a closer look at two of the games. Team USA will face Team Nigeria and we have a big european derby between Team France and Team Germany.

TEAM GERMANY VS TEAM FRANCE

Germany has evolved enormously as a basketball nation over the last decade Or so. That goes for both the ladies and the gents. Germany finished second In Group C after the dominant superpower that is the USA. Germany defeated Japan (75-64) and Belgium (83-69) in the round robin and lost to Team USA (68-87). Now the hostnation France awaits them in an important and very big match up. The team that wins the match has a very good chance to win a medal this weekend. Team France played in Group B and won two games and lost one They lost to Australia (72-79). The won against Nigeria (75-54) and Canada (75- 54). Having the home court advantage is huge for France. France played very Well in the two wins and awful in the loss to Australia. If France has any plans To win the match they must find a way to slow down the German superstar from The WNBA, Satou Sabally. Germany is better on the offensive end of the floor Which France could take advantage of. The German roster is more sensitive To potential foul trouble than the French roster is. The French side has more Experience than the Germans which can be crucial in games of this magnitude.

TEAM NIGERIA VS TEAM USA

Team Nigeria finished in third place in Group B after France and Australia. They got through to the elimination phase of the event as one of the two best third placed teams in the competition. They won two games in the Round Robin stage and lost one. Nigeria won against Team Canada (79-70) and Team Australia (75-62). Nigeria lost to France (54-75). Nigeria, Australia and France won two games each and lost one. This was pretty much the group of death in the ladies tournament and hats off to Nigeria for making it to the quarterfinals for the first time in Olympic history. Team USA won Group with three wins and no losses and are extremely big favourites in this match Up. The team is stacked with great players, athleticism and length. Team USA is in Paris to win it all and nothing else. It will be very difficult, almost to the border of the impossible, for Nigeria to make an upset here.