France secure second crown in the FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League with perfect week in Poland

Only a few weeks removed before defending their Olympic title in Paris, the France men’s senior national team delivered a pitch perfect week in Łódź, Poland, to secure their second title in history in the FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League, clinching three wins in three matches in the final round of the competition.

Eight teams lined up at the start of the final round of the 2024 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League, with four European teams at the start and France faced Italy, Poland and Japan on their way to the title, securing the trophy after hard-fought matches against their opponents.

First, they met Italy in the quarter-finals and survived a scare, as their opponents secured the first and the third sets, taking a 2:1 lead, leaving France with no room for mistake. Powered by the All-Star opposite of the competition, Jean Patry, who had 28 points, and Trevor Clevenot, who had 20 points, France bounced back and took a 25:22 win in the fourth set, pushing the match into the decider.

There, France dominated the runners-up from the CEV EuroVolley 2023 Men, 15:11, clinching the 3:2 win and progressing to the semi-finals, where they met hosts Poland, which took a clear 3:1 win against Brazil.

It was a battle between two powerhouses and it proved to be another mouth-watering clash, with Poland taking the first set, 25:22. This time around, France took the next two, powered this time by Yacine Louati and Theo Faure, who combined for 41 points. But Poland bounced back, pushed by their fans, and took the fourth set, 25:20.

The final set was excruciating for both fans and players alike, but it was France which finally pulled through, having more composure and delivering a better performance, taking the win, 18:16, and progressing to the final at Poland’s expense, which suffered a heartbreaking loss on their home court.

In the final, France faced Japan, which had previously eliminated Slovenia – the leaders after the preliminary round – with a clear 3:0 win, leaving no chance for the European side. But France were better prepared and helped by the MVP of the competition, Antoine Brizard, they kept their cool.

The two sets were split, with France winning the first one and Japan the second one, 25:23 and 25:18 respectively, but France went up a notch and after a hard-fought battle emerged victorious, with the same score in the last two sets, 25:23. Jean Patry, the best opposite of the competition this season, scored 24 points, totally outplaying Japan’s defence, to help his side secure the win.

In the bronze medal match, Poland took a 3:0 (26:24; 25:16; 25:17) win against Slovenia, to secure the last place on the podium, which has surely not been the big aim for the European champions.

This was France’s second win in the FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League, after the 2022 edition. In the six editions of the competition, there were five wins by European sides – with Russia and France having two wins each, while Poland secured the title in 2023.

2024 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League – All-Star team

MVP: Antoine Brizard (France)

Best outside hitters: Yuki Ishikawa (Japan) and Tomasz Fornal (Poland)
Best middle blockers: Nicolas Le Goff (France) and Jakub Kochanowski (Poland)
Best opposite: Jean Patry (France)
Best libero: Tomohiro Yamamoto (Japan)
Best setter: Antoine Brizard (France)