French volleyball players won against Slovenia, host country of the competition. After a last group match Tuesday against Cameroon, they will play their round of 16 in Ljubljana, September 3 or 5.
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In an atmosphere of fire, France beat Slovenia three sets for two (25-21, 22-25, 23-25, 34-32, 15-7). The Blues won this epic match at the Tie-Break, after saving three match balls in the fourth set. Throughout the meeting, the 12,500 spectators of the Ljubljana Arena Stozice noisily supported their team, in a bullfighting atmosphere.
With two victories in two games, the Blues are qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup. They will play their third and last group match in two days against Cameroon, a priori the weakest team in the hen D, in Ljubljana. France should then play its round of 16, still in the same enclosure, Saturday 3 or Monday 5 September.
On paper, this meeting had everything from the trap match. After being vice-European champion 2019 and 2021, Slovenia is a solid outsider in this World Cup. The country is classified at 10
Announced as the summit of group D, the meeting held its promises. It is true that the matches between these two strong nations of volleyball are always spectacular: the style opposition is perfect between Slovenia, with very offensive game, and France, renowned for its defensive solidity.
FIRST EASY SET
Despite a good start and a first set won quite easily, the French then had a hard time containing the Slovenian offensive furia. Attackers Klemen Cebulj and Tine Urnaut and the sharp Toncek Stern martyred the tricolor. Long exceeded in the block, the French could not stop either the cross -attacks, nor the “pipes”, powerful attacks full center with three meters. Galvanized by their audience, the Slovenes struck stronger and stronger, and made almost no fault.
During the second and third sets, the Blues were exceeded, stuck in an overly predictable game. Admittedly, Earvin NgaPeth was in a big day, and kept the blue boat afloat. Also as a success, the central Barthélémy Chinenyeze did not miss anything, but France was dominated by the power and the desire of the Slovenes. While the French began to doubt, the entry into the game of Kevin Tillie at the end of the second set to rebatted the cards.
Earvin ngapeth sparkling
The receptionist-attacker brought the tricolor the physical freshness and the confidence that made them lack. Suddenly, French counters have become more effective, their more sharp attacks. Led 17-20 in the fourth set, the Blues went to the lead at 22-21, the part reaching peaks of intensity, to finally conclude the set on the score of 34 to 32! More relaxed, and always worn by a sparkling earvin ngapeth, they were running in the tie-break and finally managed to air conditioning the Arena Stozice of Ljubljana.
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