Like every year, the famous FFL d’Or will enchant your month of December. And in 2024, we had no trouble finding the 10 who were the pride of our federation, and who perfectly embraced our values. Place the first five of the Top 10, starting from the last of course. Even if it means talking about losing, we might as well respect this mantra to the end.
10. French women’s basketball team
We start these FFL d’Or with the French basketball players. Qualified for the final of the Olympic Games, the French women face the Americans as agreed. No suspense at this level, except how the final unfolds. If the greatest orange ball specialists all agree that the match will be over at the end of the first quarter, then no. Jean-Aimé Toupane’s players more than resisted, they even matched each other. The score was 25-25 at the break, then 35-25 for the Blues after the locker room, after a scathing 10-0 in just two minutes. We might as well tell you that the Arena Bercy is in turmoil, and is strongly beginning to believe in it. Even more with a shoot from Marine Fauthoux’s parking lot
There are only 3 seconds left on the clock, and the last possession is for the French. Three points behind for the Blues, a single basket in the diabolical mind of Gabby Williams. Don’t be fooled by her blaze, she really plays with the cock on her chest. The French leader sends a prize-winning basket… which goes in. 67-67. The room exults, and for good reason; France has just won overtime in the final of the Olympic Games against the immense American armada. Oh wait, his shot is finally awarded 2 points. The reason? Half of his toe bites the 3-point line. Just one step away from sending France into overtime. 67-66 USA. Les Bleues lost the Olympic final by less than a centimeter. The Olympic spirit, what do you want.
9. French men’s 3×3 basketball team
After Timothé Vergiat’s heartbreaking buzzer-beating basket in play-in against the big Serbian favorites, and a resounding victory against the reigning Olympic champions Latvians, the French men’s 3×3 basketball team is riding a terrible dynamic at the Olympic Games . But fortunately, the finale makes us smile again. Opposed to the Netherlands, the Blues hope to offer gold to France instead of Concorde. Lol.
France leads 16-15 with 1.6 seconds left and already imagines itself on the roof of Olympus, but Worthy de Jong equalizes. First air conditioning. Overtime begins, and the Dutchman waits this time until there is only one second left on the clock to finish off the Blues with another winning shot, sent on one leg this time. Second air conditioning. What’s better to combat the intense summer heat, you ask?
Two months later, the same team playing under the colors of Paris 3×3 lost in the World Tour final in Hong Kong. The one who crucifies them in overtime in the final? Worthy De Jong. The circle is closed.
8. Alpine
We’re going to be honest with you, it was totally inconceivable for us to compose the 2024 FFL d’Or without mentioning Alpine’s delicious season. Arriving at the first Grand Prix of the season with the slowest car of all (even behind Kick Sauber please!), it was our duty to tell you about it. And as if the slowness of the car was not enough, there was also a show between the drivers, the collision occurring at the start of the Monaco GP being the apotheosis.
Add to that sublimely lame strategies in qualifying at Silverstone and in Hungary, each time with the back of the grid privatized by Alpine. And even when the car seems to be doing (a little) better, this time it is the technical regulations which are not respected as in Baku. No really, legendary panache.
If on the track, all the planets seem aligned, behind the scenes, the arrival during the season of maestro Flavio Briatore creates a healthy energy. Goodbye farewell to Esteban Ocon for the last Grand Prix of the season, ousted a few days before. Absent from the 2024 driver class photo, and non-signatory of Alpine’s end-of-season press release. A nice removal worthy of the finest feats of Photoshop. Alpine, ladies and gentlemen.
Of course, we will be careful not to mention the double podium at Interlagos, null and void for the FFL.
7. Samir Aït-Saïd
At the age of 34, Samir Aït-Saïd was one of the biggest medal risks at the Paris Olympic Games. Moreover, the French flag bearer for the Tokyo Olympics was vengeful, because in Japan, he had brought back nothing other than a delicious chocolate medal. So in the final of the rings at the Arena Bercy, the Frenchman performed a very (too?) solid program, and received a standing ovation from the public. But for the one who felt “in the shape of his life”the outcome is just as high as the hope aroused.
After deliberation by the judges, he obtained a score of 15,000. Our legendary knowledge of gymnastics allows us to understand that this grants him a place between first and last position. But the judges did things even better, and awarded him fourth place, 0.1 point behind the Greek Eleftherios Petrounias. Yes, Samir Aït-Saïd misses the medal by 0.1 points. Fourth place for the Frenchman, definitely cursed with the Olympics. Samir and the Chocolate Factory.
“Twice in a row, the chocolate medal” Samir Aït-Saïd
6. Girondins de Bordeaux
We finish this first part of the FFL d’Or 2024 with one of the most prestigious football clubs in France: the Girondins de Bordeaux. Already seventh in the FFL d’Or last year, the Girondins have gained a place in the 2024 vintage. And this year, the level is even higher. Although the club was already looking good in Ligue 2, it finally suffered an administrative demotion, and a one-way trip to National 2. The definition of panache.
It’s summer, the whole of France is vibrating to the rhythm of the Olympics… Everything? No ! A city populated by die-hard Bordeaux residents still resists professional status. The Girondins lose their team, but the squad still remains in much better condition than the club’s coffers. However, water has passed under the bridge since this episode, and Andy Caroll is now a living legend in Gironde. Good luck explaining it to your friend who’s coming back from a year-long road trip.
Related News :