It’s a very big performance. Unpublished. One more. After beating Spain last February, just before they became world champions, the French team started the Super final of the World League this Friday in Strasbourg with a victory over the United States (19- 17).
“We didn’t relax, but it’s still a great victory. At the end of the suspense. »
Sixth in the recent Worlds, the Americans were World League finalists in 2019, and even Olympic silver medalists in 2008. But, in the Kibitzenau swimming pool in Strasbourg, the Blues ended up taking the upper hand on penalties, after an interminable crossover. “There was a lot of tension, we couldn’t put aside the fact of playing at home. Where we want to shine, where we know we can shine, but where we haven’t managed to shine, and it’s paradoxicalunderlines Florian Bruzzo, the coach of the Blues. We didn’t relax completely, but it’s still a great victory. At the end of suspense. » And too bad if his men have never converted the opportunities to widen the gap, if they will have to correct their mistakes in defense for the rest of the tournament.
“They wanted to do well. Maybe a little too much raises the coach. They have to free themselves, they have to play. That they do not lose this notion of pleasure. » In a shielded enclosure, the France team first suffered the concrete screed of a major challenge. “At the same time, that’s what we came here looking for. Playing in France, with the public, with the statements we make. We must assume “, points out the coach who allowed the Blues to qualify for the Rio Olympics in 2016 after 24 years of scarcity, before focusing on the women’s team and then returning to the men’s sector, absent from the Tokyo Games, at the end of 2021 .
Against the United States, which has in its ranks the top scorer of the last World Cups, Alex Bowen, or one of the most dominant pivots in the world, Ben Hallock, the French were able to stay focused until the penalty shootout aim. “An exercise that we worked on a lot during the preparation. Often after difficult sessions, with fatigue. All of the Americans’ firing had been observed on video. We put the five out of five, we take out one, ” summarizes Florian Bruzzo.
Make way for Italy on Saturday
It should be noted that the victory of France at the opening of this Super final is one of the rare surprises with the heavy defeat of Serbia, Olympic champion, against Montenegro, defending champion but just drafted after the forfeit of Brazil (8 -16). A result which is justified by three cases of Covid and transport problems recorded by Serbia.
As for France, it will find Italy on Saturday, vice-world champion and which is among the obvious favorites of the tournament. “We go up a notch, guess Florian Bruzzo. Italy is on a good dynamic, with a young team. We will try to stay calm, where they create a lot of chaos, with a lot of entrances, penetrations. You don’t have to get into that game. On the other hand, if we impose a solid block, precise on the defense sectors, I think we can annoy them. The key is there, with big and strong jigs. Physically, on the vertical game, we can be not bad. » Provided also to quickly evacuate the euphoria of this new major victory, and convincing, against the United States.
The results : Australia-Spain: 10-13; Serbia-Montenegro: 8-16; United States-France, 17-19; Italy-Canada, 17-5.
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