FINAL 1st/2nd place
JAPAN – FRANCE 1-3 (23-25, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25)
Japan: Ishikawa 17, Nishida 11, Miyaura 10, Otsuka 9, Kentaro 7, Onodera 7, Tomita 2, Sekita 1, Kai 1, Fukatsu, Yamauchi, Ogawa (L), Yamamoto (L), Larry. All. Blain.
France: Patry 24, Tillie 13, Le Goff, 9 Louati 11, Clevenot 5, Jouffroy 5, Brizard 1, Grebennikov (L), Toniutti, Ngapeth, Diez (L), Faure, Carle, Seddik. All. Giani.
Referees: Simonovic Vladimir (SUI), Mokry Juraj (SVK)
LODZ – Andrea Giani and the France they do an encore. Two years after the success in Bologna, the transalpine national team confirmed itself on the highest podium of the Volleyball Nations League. An important success in view of the upcoming Olympic Games which will start in Paris in less than a month.
In the final 24 points Floors (3 blocks, 1 ace) is the top scorer of the match followed by his former clubmate from Milan Ishikawaof Japan, with 17 points. For France 13 from Tillie and 11 from Louati, for Japan 11 from Nishida and 10 from Miyaura.
11 later of the Transalpines (5 of Japan), 2 aces on each side, 29 French errors (20 serves) against 25 of Japan (14 on serve).
It is the fourth medal for the Transalpines in this tournament after the silver in 2018, the bronze in 2021, and the gold in Bologna 2022. To reach the gold, the Transalpines overcame the top three teams in the FIVB Ranking, Italy, Poland and Japan.
For Japan it is a step forward after the bronze in 2023.
