If team sports like handball or rugby sevens scare us for the Olympic Games, volleyball has just been added to the list. An additional threat that we would have gladly done without.
With the Olympic Games only a month away, the French volleyball team was involved in the Nations League. After knocking out Italy in the quarter-finals (3-2), the Blues didn’t stop there to annoy us. It would have been too good to be true.
A first affront for French volleyball against Italy…
In the semi-final, the French faced the locals and overwhelming favourites Poland. In front of 11,000 supporters who were behind their selection in Lodz, the Blues started their match perfectly. They left the first set to the Poles, and once again showed their fair play. But from then on, it was a steamroller that brought down the locals. France won the next two sets, and were only one set away from the final. The anxiety. Especially when the Blues were playing at such a high level.
But as is often the case with French athletes, it’s when you expect them to finish the job that they start to mess up. Poland wins 25-20 and stays alive in the match. From then on, qualification for the final will be decided in the fifth and final set. Logically, the set is unbearable. The Poles create a first match point at 14-13, which is more on their serve. Everything is in place to celebrate the French defeat in the semi-final, but a damn poorly handled counter by the Poles ruins everything. Then it’s the same again at 15-14 for Poland, and once again, the locals are pierced by our attack. A totally unbearable finish.
… followed by a second against Poland
But rest assured, on the French side, we have also mastered the art of messing up match points. While he has just slammed a supersonic ace to allow France to lead 16-15, Antoine Brizard tries to do it again; net. Except that in volleyball, there is no second serve. 16-16 suddenly. But this joy will be the last for us. After a block out from the Poles, the Blues lead 17-16, then 18-16 following a final successful attack from Théo Faure. France has just beaten the reigning European champions, as well as the reigning Nations League holders. Just that.
Already winners of the Nations League in 2022, the Blues will try to win their fourth coronation in the competition. A bright red signal one month before the Olympic Games.
We can now say it; This is Lodz.
