Three takeaways from France's win over Germany in men's basketball semifinal

France is heading to the final of the Olympic men's basketball tournament. The host country overcame Germany 73-69 on Thursday, guaranteeing it at least a silver medal. The French will face the winner of the USA and Serbia.

Here are three takeaways from France's latest win.

1. Guerschon Yabusele has cemented himself as the breakout star of the tournament 

Yabusele has played in five games so far, averaging 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. However, in his past two outings, he's walked off the floor as France's best player. Against Germany, Yabusele provided another look at what NBA teams are missing, ending the contest with 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 7-of-11 shooting. 

However, Yabusele also shone on the defensive end. His size, versatility and lateral quickness were all key aspects of his performance. His presence allowed France to be aggressive on both sides of the ball. 

2. Victor Wembanyama must improve ahead of the final. 

Wembanyama went 4-of-17 from the field and 1-of-8 from deep. There's no doubt that his presence made life difficult for Germany when trying to score on the interior. However, he must do better with the shots that come his way. He can't squander such a heavy shot diet in the next game, not with a gold medal on the line, and not in a potential clincher against the USA. 

It's worth remembering that this is Wembanyama's first Olympic tournament. He's learning on the fly, has shown some encouraging flashes and is still talented enough to be a legitimate swing factor in the final. 

3. France's defense suffocated Germany 

Germany has been one of the most consistent teams on the international stage for the past 12 months. The Germans know who they are as a unit and everybody plays their role perfectly. Nevertheless, Germany found it difficult to break down France's defensive unit, especially on the perimeter, where they usually generate their offense via drive-and-dish actions. 

France has high-level defenders throughout its roster, most notably at the point of attack and around the rim. Whoever it faces in the final will have the difficult task of consistently generating high-quality looks throughout the game.