The Olympic champions had to readjust, test, impose themselves and dare to overcome the group stages of the Nations League. It ended with a tie-break success against Brazil (25-23, 27-29, 13-25, 25-19, 18-16) this Sunday, June 23.
Now it’s time for serious things. Giani’s men had several days to recover physically before facing Italy. And the challenge is significant. Third in the general ranking, the reigning world champions have only lost three times in the tournament: against the two leaders (Slovenia and Poland) and against… France. Victory therefore seems within reach of the Blues.
What do the statistics say?
On paper, France could win. Last year, the United States stopped the French adventure at this stage of the competition, 3 sets to zero (25-21, 25-18, 17-25, 24-26, 15-9). But the scenario may be different this year.
Italy has never done better than fourth place in the Nations League. In 2018 and 2019 it finished 8th, 10th in 2021 then failed in the semi-final in 2022. France seems better experienced in the exercise: unfortunate finalist in 2018, 3e in 2021 and champion in 2022. They will a priori have to do without Earvin Ngapeth (muscle injury), currently “in a process of re-athleticization and getting back into shape”specifies Pascal Foussard, while Barthélémy Chinenyeze, injured in the knee during the first group in Antalya, is “in intensive rehabilitation course”.
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The two men will be in the stands, but absent from the match sheet. There is no doubt that Andrea Giani wants to keep them before the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11).
Find the complete volleyball schedule for the 2024 Olympics
France and Italy squads for Nations League quarter-final
Here is the list of players selected by Ferdinando De Giorgi to face the Blues.
Passengers: Richard Sbertoli, Paul Porro
Pointed: Alessandro Bovolenta, Fabrizio Gironi
Centrals: Edoardo Caneschi, Leandro Mosca, Giovanni Sanguinetti
Receivers/attackers: Mattia Bottolo, Davide Gardini, Luca Porro, Francesco Recine, Tommaso Rinaldi
Liberos: Marco Gaggini, Gabriele Laurenzano
For his part, Andrea Giani has not yet announced the official list. Here is the provisional list.
Passengers: Antoine Brizard (Piacenza/Italy), Benjamin Toniutti (Jastrzebski Wegiel/Pologne)
Receivers/attackers: Yacine Louati (Rzeszow/Poland), Timothée Carle (Berlin/Germany), Trévor Clevenot (Zawiercie/Poland), Kevin Tillie (Warsaw/Poland)
Pointed: Théo Faure (Cisterna/Italy), Jean Patry (Jastrzebski Wegiel/Poland)
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Central: Daryl Bultor (Saint-Jean d’Illac), Quentin Jouffroy (Le Plessis-Robinson), Joris Seddik (Montpellier), Nicolas Le Goff (Montpellier)
Liberos: Jenia Grebennikov (Zénith Saint-Petersburg/Russia), Benjamin Diez (Belchatow/Poland)
At what time to follow France – Italy?
The match will kick off at 5:00 p.m. in Lodz, Poland.
On which TV channel to watch the quarter-final of the Nations League between France and Italy?
The quarter-final between Italy and France will be broadcast on The Live Team. Live commentary will be provided on our site ouest-france.fr
