The French volleyball team, after their victory over Serbia 3 sets to 1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 28-26) on Friday evening in Anaheim (United States), can still dream of a qualification for the final phase. The Blues (9th), champions of the competition, now have the same number of victories (5) as the Netherlands, eighth and for the moment last qualified for the Final 8, organized in Gdansk, Poland (19-23 July). The Dutch, for their part, were beaten by Japan, a misstep that can benefit the Blues.
Against Serbia, direct rival in the race for qualification, France played with fire. Andrea Giani’s proteges gave up the first set to the Serbs, led by Marko Ivovic (12 points), who still led 11-7 at the start of the second set. The coming into play of Yacine Louati, in place of Timothée Carle, less lively than against Iran on Tuesday, and Daryl Bultor, taking over from Nicolas Le Goff, played a key role in the rise of the Blues. Still trailing 21-23, they ended up turning the tide to win this second set 25-23 on a superb block from Bultor after a serve from Louati.
The teammates of the powerful sharp Drazen Luburic (16 points) suffered the blow in the third set, won more easily by France which saw Patry (top scorer of the match with 18 points) and Trévor Clevenot (17 points) increase in power. But while victory seemed close in the fourth set (18-15), the Blues relaxed in attack, putting the 2019 European champion team back in the saddle, on the verge of equalizing in 2 sets everywhere before finally give in on the fourth match point for the Blues. This victory allows the partners of Antoine Brizard, now ninth, to overtake the Serbs in the standings.
Place now for the United States team, a very large piece, 2nd in the standings, which will have the advantage of playing at home. “Against the Americans, we expect a big game, it will be the level above,” confirmed Jean Patry.