Features

France: Can Tokyo 2020 be their great breakthrough?

#TakingtheStage

Article Tue, Jul 13 2021
Author: Constantine Dimaras
Constantine Dimaras
Antonin Rouzier devastated after France fail to make it through to the quarterfinals of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games - but can they do it this time round?

France have been on and off with their medal-winning at the major world and continental volleyball events. Although they've generally been up there amongst the superpowers of the sport their successes have been rather sporadic throught their men's National Team's long history.

Can the Tokyo Olympics prove to be their moment of glory - especially considering the strength of the pool they need to come out of? It's not quite in the realms of fantasy, but it still remains a big ask.

France are making their fifth Olympic appearance this year at Tokyo - but they've never gone above eighth, which was in their debut at the Games in Seoul 1988 where they were third in their pool before losing to both Bulgaria and Sweden in their 5-8 ranking matches. They finished 11th (last in their pool) in Barcelona 1992 and ranked 9th in both Athens 2004 and Rio 2016.

Elsewhere, France have won a couple of World League titles, in 2015 and 2017, and were even crowned European champions in 2015 (after two bronze and four silver continental medals).

Nicolas Le Goff rises above USA's Max Holt at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. France's middle blocker will have to consistently do this again and again at the Tokyo Olympics as they seek a place in the quarterfinals.

After the almost year-and-a-half break due to the pandemic, France were back again this year at the Volleyball Nations League with the 'bubble' at Rimini.

Their performance in pool play was hardly convincing and they just scraped through, last-minute, to the Final four of the competition on set ratio over Russia, before going down in straight sets to Brazil in the semifinals. Eventually they made it on to the virtual podium for bronze, with a 3-0 win over plucky little Slovenia - their second medal in the three editions of the competition after silver in the inaugural VNL of 2018.

No French player rose exceptionally above the pack at the 2021 VNL - though libero Jenia Grebennikov was the overall fifth best digger and seventh best receiver.

Their scoring came mainly from Jean Patry and Earvin Ngapeth - though efficiency-wise none stood out (Patry the best at 127/273 for 46.5%). Nicolas Le Goff from the middle did produce at times some solid blocking, averaging at .41 per set.

Libero Jenia Grebennikov celebrates as France take bronze at the 2021 Volleyball Nations League, but he'll need to produce his magic again at Tokyo if France are to make something of the Olympics.

France are lining up probably the very best they possess in manpower for the Tokyo Olympics. But they will need to push themselves hard and really get their act together if they're to move beyond their pool (against Brazil, USA, Russia, Argentina and Tunisia) and make the break for a first-ever Olympic quarterfinal appearance.

Full Olympic roster for France, under head coach Laurent Tillie:

● Setters:
Benjamin Toniutti, Antoine Brizard

● Opposites:
Jean Patry, Stephen Boyer

● Outisde hitters:
Kevin Tillie, Earvin Ngapeth, Trevor Clevenot, Yacine Louati

● Middle blockers:
Barthelemy Chinenyeze, Nicolas Le Goff, Daryl Bultor

● Libero:
Jenia Grebennikov

#Volleyball