The French have realized their dream. And they did not trail to get there. In the finals of the World League in Rio, the French have stifled Serbia in three sets (19-25, 21-25, 23-25). At one year of the Olympics in Brazil, the team of France won the first title in its history, nine years after it lost World League final against Brazil. To find Rio next year, it will still go through an Olympic qualifying tournament in January. But something has changed in the tricolor volleyball.
Going after this consecration, the Blues got their way. With five points on the outset, they announced the color. Serbia has returned once to 7-7, before seeing his opponent take off to easily win the first set (25-19). More concentrated early in the second set, Serbia raced ahead to 13-12, before cracking again under pressure from Kevin Tillie and Nicolas Le Goff. On a twist of fate and a smash Kevin Le Roux touched by a Serbian defender, the Blues are fetched the second round without too much shaking (25-21).
Back to the wall, Serbia took the lead in the third inning. It has even been close to get the set with four points ahead in the money-time (22-18). Unhappy earlier countered with two spikes, but Earvin N’Gapeth, named best player of the tournament, gave the Blues in the direction of travel with a spike and an ace. Although aided by the net on a service Kévin Le Roux to get match point, the team of France won his 17th match in 18 games to get his first international title. Not bad for a team that is still evolving in D2 early July.
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