Olympic 2016 Medal Count: Easy-to-Read Nation Rankings and Results for Final Day
The Rio de Janeiro Olympics are close to their conclusion, although there’s still plenty of action to enjoy on the last day of the competition.
The final of the men's basketball competition will be worth the wait, too, as the United States face a Serbia team seeking to pull off one more massive upset at the tournament. Meanwhile, the men's handball is also set for a dramatic conclusion, with France and Denmark each going for gold.
Here’s a look at how the last day of an enthralling Games is poised to pan out and the live medal standings from Rio.
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Men’s Basketball Final
The United States’ star-studded squad have been the favourites for basketball gold since the competition started, and they will be confident of seeing the job through when they meet Serbia in the climax.
After the women’s team won their sixth gold medal in succession, the men will be expected to do the same. They’ve won all seven of their matches at the Games, averaging a whopping 101.6 points per game under the stewardship of head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Per the Duke M. Basketball Twitter feed, the team have excelled since the veteran tactician took over the job:
"That's 75 wins in a row for the @usabasketball Men's National Team under Coach K. The #USA is playing for a gold medal on Sunday!#DukeInRio
— Duke M. Basketball (@Duke_MBB) August 19, 2016"
Serbia will find it difficult to stop that run despite their excellent recent form. They’ve been well-drilled, inventive and physical at these Games, impressing plenty with their balanced playing style. They’ve already faced the United States, pushing them close in the group stages, although eventually losing 94-91.
As noted by ESPN Stats & Info, regardless of the result, this will be a landmark occasion for the Serbians, who have done superbly making it this far:
With the gold medal up for grabs, expect a more efficient display from the United States in this one. In the group stage, they allowed Serbia to build up dangerous momentum at times, and that’s something they will need to sap in the final. Krzyzewski will ensure his players are ready for that challenge, and their class will eventually come through.
Prediction: United States 104-85 Serbia
Men’s Handball Final
In what is one of the most frenetic and fascinating sports on the Olympic schedule, Denmark will meet France in the men’s handball final on Sunday.
France have been a joy to watch at these Games, showing fluid attacking play and brilliant diversity with the ball. They may have struggled defensively at times in their semi-final, when they were a narrow 29-28 winner against Germany, although the offensive flair of players like Kentin Mahe, Michael Guigou and Luc Abalo is tough to contain.
Denmark have shown enough at these Olympics to suggest they can match the French, though. They’ll be in high spirits, too, having dramatically overcome Poland in overtime in the semi-finals to make it to the gold-medal match.
They lost to France 33-30 in the group stages but have been moving through the gears in the knockout stages. As noted by the Handball Academy, the Danes have a special player in their ranks to call upon in Morten Olsen:
Getting the ball to Olsen as often as possible will be Denmark’s best chance of victory. He and team-mate Mikkel Hansen need to win the tussle with France’s Daniel Narcisse and Nikola Karabatic to give the Danes a foothold in the match.
A close game is surely in store, and it’d be no surprise to see both sides play a little more conservatively than they have done in this competition so far given what's at stake. The attacking ingenuity the French possess will see them secure gold, though.
Prediction: France 30-28 Denmark
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