No feat and no final for the French team. Thursday evening, the Olympic champions let go against an Italy in a state of grace (3-0: 25-21, 25-19, 25-23), in a white-hot PalaLottomatica in Rome (11,000 spectators).
The Italians, reigning world and European champions, will go in search of a third major title in a row on Saturday against Poland. It will be a remake of the world final won by the Transalpines a year ago in Katowice (1-3). France will try to win the bronze medal against Slovenia.
The game ended in confusion and frustration for the Blues: in a manner that was difficult to understand, the main referee refused the video challenge on the match point, a service from Earvin Ngapeth judged a fault while on the images, he seemed to have hooked the line. Which could have allowed France to stay alive at 24-24.
Giannelli was unplayable
But the Blues will have the honesty to recognize that the game was not decided there, as they were so outrageously dominated. Guided by their fantastic conductor Simone Giannelli, the Italians created a masterpiece. Their services constantly put the French under pressure, they defended countless numbers of balls and delivered some attacks of pure genius. Unplayable.
The French held off during part of the first set, even leading 9-13. But a timeout was enough for the Italians to resume their march forward. Despite an ace from Earvin Ngapeth on his entry into play (17-17), the Nazionale broke away irresistibly (22-18). After a devastating passage in the service of the second passer Riccardo Sbertoli, France gave in (25-21).
The Giannelli festival continued from the first points of the second round: an entry ace and… a sharp attack following a sumptuous pass from his receiver Daniele Lavia (7-4).
At 13-7, Ngapeth came into play against a drifting France team. The star receiver, lacking pace after an injury, only played a marginal role in this Euro. He brought a touch of madness which revived his teammates (14-11).
But the sharp Italian Yuri Romano managed an impossible attack to prevent the Blues from getting any closer (20-16), and the Nazionale pocketed the set on a missed serve from Ngapeth (25-19).
An unfinished ascent
Italy continued to advance in the third set, facing the visibly resigned French (12-6, 18-11). On a huge serve from Stephen Boyer, Giannelli scored another incredible point, a little kick into the stratosphere above the net (20-15).
There was still a little life left among the Blues. Barthélémy Chinenyeze managed two winning blocks and shouted to his partners: “It’s not over!” » (21-20). But Ngapeth failed to slam an equalizing ball to the ground. The other Italian phenomenon, Alessandro Michieletto, put together a classy attack then an ace to give his team some fresh air (23-20). Before the strange episode of the match ball which will undoubtedly be quickly forgotten.
France still has a bronze medal to win, which would be its first at the Euro since the 2015 triumph obtained against… Slovenia. Above all, to relaunch momentum in view of the Paris Olympics, in ten months (July 26-August 11, 2024), while Andrea Giani’s team today seems to have fallen behind its main rivals. Starting with this dazzling Italian phalanx.
2023-09-14 22:11:33
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