Imperial against Italy, the French team offers itself a second consecutive Olympic final

The French team outclassed Italy in three sets in the semi-finals of the Olympic tournament on Wednesday to reach a new final in Paris.

A second consecutive Olympic final. The French volleyball team qualified for the final of the Olympic tournament on Wednesday, August 7, at the Arena Paris Sud, against their best enemies, the Italians, the reigning world champions, in three sets (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) and 1 hour and 18 minutes of play. The French team has never achieved such a feat. It could be the first team to win a second consecutive Olympic title since the United States in 1984 and 1988.

Led by an overexcited Earvin Ngapeth, who scored 15 points, including seven in the first set, the Blues never doubted against the Italians who had no solutions. Although they came from behind against Germany in the quarter-finals (3-2), France held their position as defending champion on Wednesday and made the final adjustments they were still missing. Solid in service (with six aces) and in defense, the Blues also found the right amount in attack. In the wake of Earvin Ngapeth who gained momentum over the course of the matches, Trévor Clévenot also carried his teammates thanks to his 17 points scored over the entire match.

“To win against them [les Italiens]we had to play the perfect match. But to win 3-0, we had to play an extraordinary match and that’s what we did,” Earvin Ngapeth was pleased at the end of the match. From the first points of the match, the Blues’ objective seemed clear. “We quickly made them lose their game and then we didn’t let them go. We really played the French way tonight. Even on high balls, it’s the first match [du tournoi] where, me first, we play more with our heads than with the desire to seek power”, explained the leader of the Blues.

This “French game” thus brought down the more technical game of the Italians, who were never able to make the Blues doubt. “We had that feeling to beat them from start to finish, assures Yacine Louati. We felt a very united French team, carried by the fire within us.” A fire that burned everything in its path against the reigning world champions, still looking for their first Olympic title. “We didn’t want to give them hope. We talked a lot and we were focused on making sure they didn’t turn the game around like they did against Japan. [en quarts]“analyzes the libero, Jenia Grebennikov.

Just one step away from a new Olympic title, the Blues will have one last major opponent: Poland, the world’s number one team. “They are a very physical team but the final will be beautiful,” warns Jenia Grebennikov, who has “still struggling to realize” this qualification in the final. “We still have a fight to win the most beautiful medal, smiled Earvin Ngapeth, who could not contain his tears on the pitch at the final whistle. It’s a dream to defend your title at home.” The task will not be easy, but not impossible. Last June, the Blues beat the Poles at home to win the Nations League. A victory gleaned after saving two match points.