Paris (AFP)
The French volleyball team will have to do without their star Earvin Ngapeth for the start of the Euro: the MRI passed by the striker / receiver revealed a muscle injury requiring rest for the first three matches at least, a announced the staff Monday.
During the warm-up of the last French preparation match against Germany on Saturday, Ngapeth felt on his first attack an embarrassment on the coast. He attended from the bench to the whole meeting, won by the French three sets to two.
"As the staff of the team of France thought in view of the first exams Saturday, the receiver / striker of the Bleus suffered from a muscle injury, which will force the coach Laurent Tillie to spare him for the start of the Championship. Europe, since it should be unavailable from three to five matches, "said the French Federation (FFVB) in a statement.
Headlining tricolor volleyball, Ngapeth will not play the opening match Thursday against Romania in Montpellier (20:45), as well as the games against Greece, Saturday (17:15), and Portugal, Sunday (17:30) .
If his presence for the last two matches of the group stage against Bulgaria (Monday 16, 20.45) and Italy (Wednesday 18, 20.30), still in Montpellier, is uncertain, it should however be postponed no later than from the 8th finals in Nantes, Saturday 21st September.
"I'm not worried after Saturday's scare and these two days have been long, I'm still working and mobilizing to be 100% when I find the team, we'll make the decision to come back with the staff" , said Ngapeth, quoted in the statement of the FFVB.
For Trévor Clevenot, touched adductors, "the ultrasound control (...) revealed no injury, the receiver / striker will resume training with the group for the first game."
To be ready for any eventuality, the tricolor staff Sunday reminded Thibault Rossard, in the same position as Ngapeth and Clevenot. He takes the place of his cousin, Libero Nicolas Rossard, in the group of 14 players to dispute the Euro.
© 2019 AFP