‘It may be the best’: Opals stun France to stay alive, face Serbia in quarters

Sandy Brondello was anxious all day long. Not pacing, exactly, but nervous. She had watched the other group games unfold, and bugger, those results weren’t helping.

“But in the end I’d rather it that way, because then it’s on us to win,” said Brondello, moments after her Opals did exactly that – defeating host nation France in a do-or-die game in front of a wild capacity crowd of 27,000 at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille.

“Going into the game itself, I was very calm. I felt confident in how they were all locked in. And then it’s going out there and not getting too high or too low. I always say that. One possession at a time. Little goals.”

The home team hit the court hard too, however, in yet another brutal encounter marked by momentum swings and physicality, all of which is why Brondello is savouring the victory as one of the finest she has seen by the national side.

“It’s ranked way up there. It may be the best,” she said, “because it means we’re staying here. It’s very meaningful.”

France came into the game with imperious form, having trounced both Nigeria and Canada by 21 points, and the Opals could only advance to the quarter-finals in Paris by knocking them over. It was more than a mountain to climb, but there’s a process and a culture in place with this team.

The Opals advanced to a quarter-final showdown against Serbia on Wednesday.Credit: AP

“I believe we prepared really, really well,” said sharpshooter Alanna Smith. “We knew what we wanted to do, we knew how we wanted to exploit them. They’re very talented, but a lot of it’s about self belief – knowing that we’re talented, too.”

The Opals led from the front, and led almost all night, but were headed often by the French team - Les Braqueuses (The Robbers) making it difficult and going on hot runs, enlivened by the noise spilling down from the grandstands of this converted football stadium near the Belgian border.

“They had a few surges, but we stuck together, and I feel like every time we had an answer,” forward Steph Talbot said. “We stopped the surge before it got too big, which was a goal. They were going to hit tough shots. They were going to go on runs. But if we could stop the bleeding and stay together as soon as possible, we were going to be in a good spot.”

Every time France reeled them in, the Opals drew away, eventually winning 79-72.

Coach Sandy Brondello described the 79-72 win as one of the Opals’ finest.Credit: AP

“It’s trying to play with poise,” Brondello said. “We found a way.”

The game was also characterised – as all their group games have been – by rough edges. That’s international basketball. It’s gritty and fierce and you’re made to earn what you want. Brondello pointed out that in the WNBA “you can barely touch anybody”, so the team needed time to adjust to a new normal, but their dials are now set.

“You have to remember international ball, and what they’re allowed in [terms of] physicality,” she said. “We had to get back to being feared, and get used to this rugged style.”

It was an even performance. Ezi Magbegor had 14 points – and it could have been much more, missing some easy buckets – while Sami Whitcomb played with creativity and speed for 12, as did Smith, who worked tirelessly to get into the paint and stretch her opponents. But the top scorer came from a perhaps unlikely source.

Opals captain Tess Madgen was quiet against Nigeria, and then again facing Canada – and in truth throughout most of this Olympic campaign preparation – but came roaring back to life against the French, topping the scoring with 18 and showing her trademark doggedness.

“We’re so lucky to have Tess,” said Smith. “She’s the glue to the team, the beat to the drum, and she’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to stay together despite our rocky start. She plays an integral role in what it means to be an Opal.”

It was an inspired performance by the team’s spiritual and literal leader, leading at both ends, putting defensive attention into dangerous French playmaker Marine “Wizard” Johannes.

“That’s why she’s here,” said Brondello. “She’s just tough as nails. I think she’s one of the best captains we’ve ever had.”

Brondello can see the way the team is playing itself into form and belief at the right moment, ahead of their quarter-final against Serbia at Bercy Stadium in Paris on Wednesday (7pm AEST).

“They’re still learning each other,” said Brondello, smiling. “But we feel more comfortable every day, and we get another chance to play Opals basketball. We found a way.”

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