An immense joy, but above all a beautiful tribute to the commentator Xavier Richefort, who died the day before. Black T-shirt, an immaculate “Xavier” printed on the chest, the Blues posed, one knee on the ground for half, and celebrated in moving sobriety the crushing success obtained Saturday evening in Bologna, against Italy, in the semi-finals of the League of Nations (25-22, 25-20, 25-15).
Faced with locals pushed by some 11,000 spectators present, the France team gave a volleyball lesson on Saturday evening. Despite a long start, explained in particular by several unforced errors in the service, the men of Andrea Giani, Italian coach of the Blues very warmly welcomed by the crowd on the spot, regaled.
Win gold for Richefort
The turning point of the game may have come when Earvin N’Gapeth – fit after being deprived of the quarter-final against Japan (ankle) – and his team reversed the trend of the game at the end of the first set. After the timeout taken at 18-20, the French took control of the match, to dominate in all areas of the game. After winning the first set (25-20), they no longer doubted. ” We knew they were going to start hard, on adrenaline, we had to hold the start of the matchthen told N’Gapeth on the L’Equipe channel. We set up our game. We surpassed them today (Saturday) and when you put a smile on it, you know it hurts the opponent. »
This was all the more seen in the third act, as the Blues approached with a beating drum: 4-1, 7-2 then 11-4. A controlled ride, which after a river score (25-15) sent them to an enticing meeting against the United States – also easy against Poland (3 sets to 0) – in the final, Sunday (9 p.m., live on the L’Equipe channel). With, always in a corner of the head, the desire to continue the homage to the one who for most of them was their voice of volleyball. ” We wanted to win for Xavierslipped N’Gapeth. He would not have wanted to see us enter the field dejected and sad. We want to get the medal tomorrow for him and his family. “If it is as irresistible as tonight, the France team has a good chance of achieving its goals.
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