The French volleyball team, Olympic champion four weeks ago in Tokyo, beat Germany, Monday, September 6 in Tallinn (Estonia), three sets to one and thus signs its third victory in three group matches of the ‘Euro.
This victory (31-29, 15-25, 25-22, 25-22) allows Benjamin Toniutti’s teammates to remain undefeated in this European Championship and to secure their place for the round of 16, in Ostrava (Republic of Czech) in a week.
#Eurovolleym #ALLFRA 29-31 25-15 22-25 22-25 victory for the Blues ? https://t.co/q0ZJOw2LIs
“Germany turned their players around, starting the game with a super young team that got into us. We struggled to adapt, but the important thing is to win when you play less well. This is what we did, it remains positive ”, commented Earvin Ngapeth after the meeting.
“You can’t always win and play well”
Faced with a team of the caliber of Germany, even deprived of Georg “Bomber” Grozer, back in selection after eighteen months of stoppage but left on the bench on Monday, the Blues experienced a big air hole in start of the second set, failing at the reception against the power of the services of Moritz Karlitzer and Linus Weber, respectively 20 and 27 points in the game.
The French then resumed their march forward, not without being scared. Even led in the fourth set (17-15), they managed to tighten the game thanks to Faure’s service, to avoid the tie-break. “You can’t always win and play well. It’s a European Championship that will be very long. We will retain the result tonight “, concluded Earvin Ngapeth, top French scorer Monday night with twenty-one points.
The team now has a royal road to finish in first place in its group D for the first round of this Euro. After a day’s break on Tuesday, the French will meet Latvia on Wednesday at 7 p.m., before finishing this first phase against the host country, Estonia, Thursday at 7 p.m.