2024-08-06 02:57:20
Latvia will compete against France on Monday in the semi-final match of the Paris Olympic Games. The duel will start at 20.00 Latvian time.
“Tomorrow will be a big game. Latvia was the best in the group tournament, but now a new competition begins. We respect them very much, [Nauris] Miezis has shown an amazing performance throughout the tournament, we will definitely try to limit him. Our fans will help us,” Verzha said after the quarter-final match, in which France, with the hot-blooded support of local fans, beat one of the favorites of the tournament, Serbia, 22:19.
In the main competition, Latvia won all seven matches, while France ranked fifth with three successes. “Seven victories are a very big surprise, because eight of the world’s best teams have met here. Finishing the group stage undefeated is a great result in my opinion. To be honest, they played beautiful basketball in the group stage, but as I said, other competitions are starting now, the pressure will be on them,” said Verža, who scored the game-winning shot in the duel with Serbia.
“We know that Latvia is still undefeated – we won’t have anything to lose, we won’t be favorites, but the spectators will push us forward,” said another French national team basketball player Liks Disollier, reminding that the first match between Latvia and France in this tournament was point by point. “They are in very, very good shape, two of them have already won the Olympic Games, last year we lost to them in the bronze match of the European Cup. We know them, we know they are great players, but we will do everything to stop them.”
After the match, Disollier emphasized to his teammates that you can enjoy the quarterfinal victory for 15-20 minutes, but immediately after that you should start preparing for Monday, when two big games are expected. “We will be ready, especially with these spectators. I’m not saying we’ll win, they’re a great team, but I think we’re a great team too. The fans are really fantastic, they push us forward, our families are here too. It’s fantastic to play in this atmosphere.”
The player of the French national team says that 3×3 basketball is starting to become more and more popular in his country, winning the love of the audience, and the Olympic Games especially help this. On the other hand, he calls the leader of the Latvian national team, Nauri Miezi, a great player. “He is playing really well at the Olympic Games, but we will do everything to stop him and become Olympic champions,” emphasizes Lick Disolier.
2024-08-06 02:57:20