2025 CIP | BRONZE | USA v France | Men's Foil Fencing Team World Cup | [Olympic Rematch]

Of course, I'm thinking of the United States, with the one who did the best performance yesterday, qualifying for the final. I'm thinking of Alexander Macialas. Yes, it's a solid team. We have Chase Emmer, a young American, we talked about him yesterday, he was 17 years old, and he was playing a final here. Next to him, Niki Tkin, bronze medalist at the Olympic Games. Alexander Macialas, we don't introduce him anymore, we talked about him yesterday. Egerek Maynard, who is an important member of the team. And now, it's the French team who's making their entrance. You can see it. Yes, with Maximilien Chastanet first, right in front of Pierre Loisel, best French individual yesterday, because he reached the quarterfinals. And then we have Maxime Potti, and finally Raphael Savin. Raphael, who fell to him in the top 16 yesterday. Yes, Raphael, who is coming back to the highest level. We already talked about him. Maxime Potti, who always shows great things by team, and who has become really essential in this team. Pierre, quarterfinalist yesterday, and who has been very solid today. And Maximilien Chastanet, bronze medalist at the Olympic Games, and it's been a few years since we've seen him regularly in the French team. Yes, in this team. We have two bronze medals from Paris 2024, with Maxime and Maximilien. So, we already explained it yesterday, of course Enzo Lefort, for the moment, is taking his time before getting back on the track. Nevertheless, he was very present at Coubertin yesterday and today with the team to encourage his teammates, to give his vision of things. It's always interesting, obviously, for a group, to have someone like Enzo on their side. They know each other so well that they couldn't be far from his friends, Enzo. Yes, we were looking well in the stands. We spotted the whole group of France who were generally together in the heights of the stands. They are there, they encourage, they come to support their training friends and even their everyday friends. So, it's a tight group, we've already said it, and it's a truth. Come on, we can't wait to see this confrontation begin. A little word earlier about the final, which will obviously see the Italians face the Japanese. Here too, a poster that becomes classic. Italy, of course, but Japan, for a few years too. It's a sure value of the scrims, even in general, but of Fleuret in particular. Italy, Japan, we'll come back to that, but it was also the poster of the Olympic Games final. We regularly find the same teams on the front of the stage. They know each other very, very well, all these shooters. And we can see in the box, behind the French, Emery Clot, the coach, Ibris Biard, the head of the delegation. When you have two players like that behind you on the pitch, it's even more difficult. So Emery, who had taken, not a risk, but had strategically changed his formula a bit against the Chinese, since it was Pierre Loisel who finished the game. It makes sense, because we saw Pierre very fit yesterday. He's in the quarter-finals, as we've already said, and he showed some great things in the first few rounds against Great Britain and Sweden. So it was logical to test him in this position. Maxime is very solid as a finisher, but you also have to see several configurations. So it was the moment, with Pierre's strength at the moment, to try him in this position. You have to remember that in the World Cups, it's also time to try different strategies to get the best solutions when you have a team in the European and World Cups. It's time to do it. Let's go for this first relay. There will be nine in total. Let me remind you, we're going in 45 touches, or nine times three minutes. There's a counter-response. That's good. An attack, a parry, a response, and a counter-response. He's going for it again. He's doing several touches. Pierre, I think it's a touch that touched him. It's 1-0 for the United States. France. The display is reversed. We're going to report it to our friends at Capcom who will immediately react. That's it. We asked for a video of the referee. Celia is slowing down. We've seen two touches from the Frenchman. He's not starting right away. That's why I think the American is asking for a decision. He thinks there's a touch from the Frenchman, but he's stopping. He's not attacking right away. The referee is giving priority to Pierre. It's 2-0. We're not going to complain. It's a good start for France. This match is going to be very long. We know that. I think HitKill wants to take a risk. HitKill Noisel was the 16th Pierre took the lead. He's a little thirsty for revenge. He wants to report to his opponent. Next time, I'll be there. I'm already there for you. You're not scaring me. The guy who won the CIP at the individual level was in 2020. We're back to 2-2. He's attacking from the right. Of course. Clear and clear action. He was lucky, because it didn't go far from the post. Fortunately, it's not valid. It was a little naive from Pierre. He made an attack, but not 100%. Fortunately, the parry didn't go far from the post. The United States are leading by a small point. This first relay is always important even if the match is very long. The priority is for France. We see the first action of the American who doesn't touch. The priority goes to the left. Pierre Noisel is equalized 3-2. It's a shame. He missed the target. He was right about the intention, but it lacked precision. A nice dodge from the American who made a counterattack. The attack is invalid. He's got one. He kicked in. It's 5-3. We go to 45. It's 9 relays of 5 touches where we get the score of the previous match. Maximilien Chastanet is fighting against the 2nd of yesterday, Alexander Macialas. It's going to be an atypical match. Two atypical scrims with the blade removed from the front so the opponent can't take the iron. We're not at the school of the arm stretched. We're going to try not to give the iron to the opponent. It's true on both sides. It's 5-4. Look at this set-piece from Coubertin. You might be able to see the French team in the stands who were already there yesterday in the back of the stands on the right with the athletes' heads. It's something we saw at the Olympics. It's really nice. Their little heads on the 4 members of the French team. He's preparing. He started a bit too late or not at all. Alexander Macialas came very quickly to touch Maximilien. He attacked from the right. It's a shame. It touches the American side and it's a good thing because the action was offensive. He tried the French counterattack. He was on a change of direction. I don't think he was very good on his feet. He defended as best he could because he still had 5-6 meters behind him to move back. I don't think he was very good on his feet at that moment. Watch out for Alexander Macialas. You have to make him want to leave. It's very well done. Nice attack, well pushed. He's going far. He's preparing his action well. On the other hand, when he leaves, he has a great extension and he manages to hang on to the American's cuirass. It's a shame. Once again, he's blocked. He's blocking himself when he has to defend with his legs. He can't move back or he'll be touched. Come on, Maxime. Maximinien, sorry. That's the game. When you leave with a short arm, you can get caught like that. It's very well done by Macialas. It's smart. We'll move on to the third relay. Yes, it's going relatively fast. Maximinien, who talked to us a little bit before this match. You can find the interviews, the backstage footage of this Forvis Mazar Paris International Challenge on the YouTube channel of the French Federation of Scrims, on which you are already connected since you follow us. There will be a lot of subjects that will be put online throughout the week. Raphael Savin versus Gerekh Meinhardt. Raphael. Raphael, who beat Gerekh with a score of 32. It was 32, yes. Yesterday, during the individual test, it was perhaps the table of 64. I think it's the table of 64. We'll check, because I think it's 32 too. We'll check. 64. Come on, it was good yesterday, the table of 16 for Raphael. He would have liked to go almost no further. And there he finds his place, of course, at the highest level. And being part of this team of France is proof of that. This team of France per team. Too bad, too bad that it didn't go all the way. He took it from a distance. Raphael. He makes the exchange last, he prepares well, he works well. What we see, we don't necessarily realize, but it's a lot of work. He's patient, he builds, it's not bad. He's not at the same pace as the previous match, you announced it, Celia. It was well attempted, it was well attempted, this stop. It's not valuable, but not very far. You have to be vigilant on his walk. He walked too much, he gave up a little somewhere. The American didn't back down, he saw he was at a distance. And it's 11 to 7, four points behind. Be careful not to let yourself be too distanced by the Americans. The attack is clearly from the left, even if the American asks for a slowdown. Celia, I'll let you watch the slowdown, but I really feel like it's the French who are attacking, there's no time loss, I think. The attack starts from there. There may be a little stop, I don't know, I'll let you talk. Yes, there's a little stop, we'll see if at this stop, the American really goes back to the bench. Anyway, you see, we're taking the time to discuss between the two referees, who alternate between video assistant and track referee. It's still the attack of the French. 11 to 8. Raphael is watching. Henrik Plouw in the box. Not the defendants, but the box of the teammates. They exchanged a look, a little confirmation of the head. Raphael had a doubt about the phrase, but he's wrong, it's really the American who goes to the bench. Raphael must not fall asleep. It was very well done. He came to vary his target. He hangs on the arm. It was quite intelligent. He went to get the back. It didn't happen this time, but it was well built. Unfortunately, the attack is not valid. 21 seconds. We shouldn't go to 15 touches in this third relay. I think Raphael has reason to delay if he doesn't feel this confrontation. Rather than taking the water, it's better to delay a little and look for a touch. There was no light because the device is blocked at the end of the time. You see the 0.00, it's the remaining time. The device blocks at this time. So we can't touch after the three minutes. If there was no blocking, it was the American who touched. There is a parry post. I don't know if he would have touched on the first or on the pass. But there was a parry post. We find Maximilien, but not Maxime Chastanet. The goal is to get closer or even stick to the score. Why not pass again in front? If we are optimistic and ambitious, this is what we expect from Maximilien. But in any case, to stay as close as possible in terms of score. This touch is beautiful. We saw the extension of the arm, the beautiful slit. It's very well executed. Be careful. He is very strong. He really knows his touch. The touch he is most comfortable with. His attacks go a little far. He has an extension and explosiveness on his attacks that are very effective. We want to see them on the podium. For that, we must impose ourselves in this small final against the United States. The Americans lead 13-9 in this 4th relay. A little game of legs from Maximilien. It's the same. He is very strong on that. A small slit walk that goes far. An inviolable attack this time. Maximilien does what we call a little man. He goes down very low on his legs with his arm stretched. That's why it's inviolable. And again. You have to find a solution. It's not easy. He tries to provoke the opponent by staying arm-stretched and offering a little bit of his blade. But it doesn't work. I think he should defend by turning in the other direction. He turns his hand in the same direction. And Nikitkin just has to bypass his blade. And he knocks down the American. This time, it's the Frenchman who touches. 15-10. The gap is again of 5 touches. You have to go back a little bit. You have to trigger him. He triggered him too late. He walked a little too much. He was very close. But he triggered him too late. The American just had to stretch his arm. It's hard. Come on! The supporters' club should give some voice. They need it. 7 touches. He attacks directly. His arm is short. Sorry, I cut you. But it's obviously a tactical change. The idea is to break the American machine which is completely launched. There is some movement in the box. We came to get some equipment. What you don't necessarily see on the screen is Maxime Potti who was substituting. He's getting up. He's starting to move. He's already warmed up. He shot a lot. He warmed up before too. It's true that you feel he can probably come back. You have to be ready for that. Of course, a warm-up on the pitch is essential. Yes, it's essential. These are 5-touch matches. It can go very fast. You can't have 2-3 touches to get on your feet. You have to be ready right away. It's important to get in shape mentally and physically to be ready to come back and try to stick to the sport and to be ready right away in this match. The attack is French. I don't think the referee will judge even if the American asked for the video. Will we be able to see the slow-mo? Look, it's a discussion. Here is the slow-mo. It will always be a question of the short arm with the point on the outside. It's true that the point is not on target. It's difficult to judge even if we see that Maximilian will try to attack. It's his style of play. It can play tricks on him in terms of refereeing. He will not judge. If he judges systematically like that, there is nothing to say. It's up to the writer to adapt to the referee's vision and interpretation. We are talking about Willem Madra, one of the best referees in the world. He is legitimately judging this final. You will also find on YouTube an interview of Pascal Mage who was a referee for the last time at an international scrimmage. He was a great referee at the Olympic Games in Paris. It's not far off because Nikitkin has made the special. He is ready. As soon as Maximilian accelerates, Nikitkin extends his arm and disturbs him. The risk is to try to get the iron to press on it and that the American drops it. Nikitkin pulls out his blade to prevent Maximilian from getting the iron. It's really him who decides. Do I let him get the iron to make him want to hit and do exactly what he just did? Yes, it works well. It's 20-12. We will move on to the 5th relay. Be careful, the boat takes the water with 8 touches of delay. There are 4 assaults left Pierre Loisel is back on the track. He is the best in the individual race. It's Geric Maynard. He caught up. He managed to get the point and catch up with the target. Maynard went up fast. It's beautiful. It's a beautiful action. Be careful, he went fast. He came to take the iron. You have to be careful of Maynard. He is always very present. It's very complete. Maynard's scrim is very complete. He has a beautiful game palette. He is comfortable in all his systems. When you step back in front of him, you have to go very fast. It's good. It's good because he knows what action he wants to take. He finishes on a target on the shoulder that is very well chosen. The American slipped. He didn't hurt himself, apparently. A very beautiful track in mauve. It's tough for the Frenchman. He knew what he wanted to do. That's what you have to do. Maynard has a short arm. He has a short arm on the start. We ask for the video. Brice Guyard gave a sign to Pierre. I see him leaving with a short arm. Maynard extends his arm. He goes in, as they say. I have the impression that Pierre has a short arm. However, what he proposed on the two previous touches is to be aggressive immediately. The referee confirms his decision. He mustn't finish on Maynard's card. Especially at this distance. He is still far from the cuirass. The American has telecommanded Pierre. He extends his arm. He looks for the shot. It was beautiful. That's beautiful too. He goes back to the right. It's tough for Pierre. I think he was surprised by Maynard leaving so quickly. He didn't panic. The solution he chose was to counterattack. Maynard's arrow was fast. A bit like this one. It's the second time our Frenchman surprises with arrows. It's 25-16. The gap is widening. 9 touches. Go, go, go! Maciadas faces Samah. I have the impression that we will see a change in the French team. I see Maxime Petit taking off his jacket. I think we warned the referee about this change. It was predictable. At the end of Maximilian's relay, Maxime was standing. He did his last warm-up. It was predictable. I think it was a good decision by Emerick Clot. Raphael took the arrow twice. It's the American who takes the arrow for the second time. It's very fair play by the American who said he wanted to try his mask. I was hit in the mask but I wasn't hit on a valid spot. It's fair play because the American took the arrow but he made sure there was no technical problem on the French side. It's very fair. Raphael is always too close. He can't reach Maciadas' arrow. Maciadas is also a bronze medallist in this game. There are two bronze medallists in this team. I think the French will take the arrow. Does he still have a video? Yes, he has a video request. I would like to give it to Raphael. He takes the arrow. We can see it on the slow motion. He takes the arrow. It's an offensive action. He has the priority. He comes back too fast to change his decision. We can see an attack on the iron. The referee thinks it's a parry by the American. We'll respect his decision. It's 28-16. It's getting complicated. He has to get his arrow. If he wants to get on the podium. Ouch! I thought the French would go first. It's going well for Raphael. It's 36-16. The American is opportunistic. The slightest mistake is a penalty. It's getting difficult. It's not an impossible mission. It's a very complicated mission. Maxime Poty is on the track for this final. He shot in previous matches. He has a heavy mission. We know he's strong. But he has to be very strong to try to get as close as possible to the American. He has to avoid a penalty. You'll see Maxime. He has a lot of rhythm. He's very strong. When he has to step back, he goes down on his legs. He has a lot of rhythm. He's ready to defend. He's the first one to touch the relay. It's going well for the French. It's going well. Yes! He surprised the American. He was close. A small arrow touched him. Another arrow on the referee's alley. He's gone. Go on. You have to try to drown the opponent's fish. Ten touches behind. He's not panicking. He's patient. He chooses his target. Even if Maynard reacts, he always finishes where he wants. It's a great start. He should have finished in the sixth. It's not valid. You have to keep this rhythm. Don't let the American breathe. It's not valid. It touches the arm. You saw it. He moved his legs quickly. He couldn't catch Maynard's accuracy. Go on. Maynard almost made a mistake. He stopped. Maxime didn't have the chance to take advantage of it. He thought he touched the American. Ten touches behind. 31, 21. It touches the arm. It was very good. A little bit more. The American stopped. That's what Maxime is asking. We can see he's stopping his attack. We'll slow down. It's hard to judge. I don't see the American I think he's trying to stop it. What will the referee say? He's stopping. He's trying to do it. Maxime is going. It was very well done by Maxime. Be careful in the middle of the track. He agrees to step back. Don't step back anymore. Maxime, it's going well for the one who was replacing him at the beginning of the final. You have to keep going. The video is requested. Tell us why. The video is requested by Maxime because the referee gives an attack from the American. What Maxime says is as on the previous touch there's a stop in the American's attack. You can see he's doing the sign with his hand. He says he's stopping but it's the American who's going so he's keeping the priority. He's walking too much. He's walking too much but he's moving his hand too much so he's opening targets and he's getting caught on the walk. Be careful of the touch. He has to go and get the touch but on the last two he rushed on the last two actions of the French. He rushed but so far it worked in this relay so he's keeping his game plan to go fast. He doesn't want to give the iron to the American. A very short arm. That's beautiful. A stop on the American's mark. What you need to know is that Maynard had his wrist operated a month and a half ago so he's not 100% of what he can do. The parade of posts. The parade of posts with the nice break. It has to motivate the friends behind, Raphael and Pierre. Maxime doesn't have the right to ask for a video. 35-27, 8 touches behind. We had 10 earlier. We were at minus 14. There were 30-16 so it's a very big relay of Maxime. There are still 8 touches behind but it has to allow his friends Raphael and Pierre to get motivated and to do their best in the last 2 relays. Come on Raphael, we're counting on you. He's ready right away. There are a lot of things in common between these two Eskrims. It should be a good match with a lot of iron and big attacks. Direct touch. Very well executed again. It's always the same. He's got this one well. He had to do it. He had to do it several times and in the end it's the American who appears last. 10 touches behind. Come on, come on, come on. The post doesn't touch. He's going to test his flair. No, no, no. The body language is not very positive. Yes, yes. It's well played by the American who made Raphael fall into the void. As soon as Raphael's attack was over, he went back to get his touch. That's good. He assisted Raphael. Indeed, he assisted in this action and turned on his relay. The first action doesn't touch and the second. But he's fast. It's one of his best skills. He's coming back to the target. You can still see the quality he's got. He doesn't touch his first attack very quickly. It's not a valid touch but it's his ability. Raphael is asking for the video. It's not easy to judge. It could almost be a simultaneous attack. Raphael is a bit late. That's what the referee We'll move on to the last relay. We can't hide it. The Americans dominated us in this match. We need an exceptional Pierre. Pierre Loisel was good yesterday in reaching the quarter-finals. But now, it's almost impossible. Pierre will give everything he's got. We need a great Pierre but we also need a Macealas who's totally close to his relay. That rarely happens. Macealas, I remind you, was a finalist yesterday in the individual event. I think we're going to change the body line. There's a technical problem in Pierre's body line. It goes through the sleeve and connects the electric device to the tip of the fleuret. Fleuret, I remind you, is 500 grams of pressure to light a torch. It's only valid when you reach the electric cuirass. You know that. What we want to see is a good reaction from Pierre even if it doesn't allow France to win. It would be good to reduce the gap symbolically. Pierre de Coubertin is waking up a bit. We're going to test the cuirass for the last time in this final. I remind you, the final is just after Italy-Japan. Stay with us because there's going to be a great show. It's not over yet. There's still this relay to try to do the best we can for Pierre Loisel. Is he asking for protection from the mask? No, he's saying that the sound of the blade is actually the mask. It's not the sound of the blade, it's the sound of the mask. According to him, there's no parade. Antoine Coquart is slowing down. It's difficult to see. I don't think it's the mask that's making the sound. I don't think the referee will be able to judge. Greg Macialas is the head coach. What's he doing? Maybe it's not worth it for the Americans to get angry when there are 11 goals ahead. It's Alexander, the shooter, who asked his father to calm down before going into the box. Nice counter-attack. He was right in front of him. It's almost the American who came to get hit. It's good. He's going a little too far. It's the American trying to make the parry that put his arm against the Frenchman's fist. This action didn't go far. Fortunately, it's unavoidable. The parry from Riposte. It's beautiful. Riposte in the back. Right behind the shoulder. Unavoidable attack. The attack was coming from the Frenchman. Parry from Riposte. We see Pierre going back, defending arm and leg. Riposte afterwards. It's a shame. It's a shame he doesn't touch Pierre. 43-32 2 minutes 33 seconds. Pierre has to try to score. Who did it last? The referee directly. Let's watch the video. She gives the ball to the Frenchman. It's 43-33. The counterattack from Tricolor who doesn't touch. Unavoidable. Only one touch left for Masialas. It will be the 3rd place for the United States. It's directly unavoidable. What's great with Masialas is that whatever his position he manages to score again. It didn't go far. It's over. Masialas allows the United States to win this little final. 45-33. It will be the Americans on the 3rd step of the podium. Celia, you have to be honest. They were clearly above our Tricolor. I didn't find the French at their best. We saw them more committed.