France won the Nations League men’s volleyball, defeating Japan 3-1 (25-23; 18-25; 25-23; 25-23) in the final staged in Lodz (Poland). After beating Italy and Poland in the tie-break, the Olympic Champions got the better of the never-indomitable Asians and won the prestigious international traveling tournament for the second time in history after the 2022 seal in Bologna.
Coach Andrea Giani’s boys are thus launching themselves with great optimism towards the Paris 2024 Olympics, while the Japanese are missing the appointment with the trophy after third place twelve months ago. The Galletti made the difference at 21-21 in the first set after a point-to-point battle. Japan dominated the second set, but then the French were more cynical in the third set (containing a comeback attempt from 13-19) and in the fourth set (overturning a dangerous 22-23).
Over the top test by the opposite Jean Patry (24 points, 3 blocks) and the hitter Kevin Tillie (13 points), flanked by band Yacine Louati (11 points). There was also room for the hammer Trevor Clevenot (5 points), the center Le Goff (9 points, 3 blocks) and Jouffroy (5) under the direction of Brizard, brilliant libero Grebennikov. The attackers Ishikawa (17 points), Nishida (11) and Miyaura (10) were not enough for Japan.
