Volley – Memorial Wagner (H): France finally wins, against Slovenia

Published on August 20, 2023 at 4:23 p.m. Aurélie Sacchelli

Beaten by Italy and Poland on Friday and Saturday, the French men’s volleyball team ended up winning a victory at the Wagner Memorial in Poland, in four sets against Slovenia. Reassuring before the start of the Euro in ten days.

After three consecutive defeats, finally a victory for the French men’s volleyball team! Beaten in the quarter-finals of the League of Nations by the United States last month, then by Italy on Friday and Poland on Saturday in the first two games of the Memorial Wagner, a famous friendly tournament organized in Poland for twenty years, the Blues have returned to success, against Slovenia. The Slovenians pulled away on Saturday to beat Italy 25-23 in the tie-break, and they were visibly tired to chain twenty-four hours later against the Olympic champions. France finally won 16-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20 in just under two hours of play.

The Blues took their time

However, it was the Slovenians, fourth in the 2022 World Cup, who started the match best by leading the first set from start to finish from 4-4 and widening the gap at the end, France having resisted until 13-16 before collapsing. But in the second round, Andrea Giani’s men woke up and it was they who dominated the set almost from start to finish (9-5, 14-9, 19-15). The third set turned out to be more addictive. The two teams were still tied at 13-13 and then at 19-19, before the French signed a 6-3 to take the lead in this match. Facing tired opponents, the Blues easily dominated the fourth set, leading 7-4 then 11-7 and 18-13, before winning with a five-point difference.

Off to Tel Aviv!

So this is a victory that will do good for the morale of the France team, which will start its Euro in ten days with the aim of getting on the podium after a 2022 World Cup concluded in the quarter-finals and a League of Nations in halftone. Remember that the Blues, who can count on the return of their star Earvin Ngapeth, will face in the group stage in Tel Aviv Turkey (August 30), Portugal (31), Israel (September 2), Romania (4) and Greece (5). The first four will play in the round of 16, next to Varna in Bulgaria. The semis and the final will take place in Rome.