Montpellier (AFP)
For the first match of "their" European Championship at home, the French volleyball players have mastered their subject against Romania for a first warm-up lap, Thursday night in Montpellier in a South Arena half filled.
Faced with the 27th nation in the European ranking of volleyball, the suspense did not last very long, and the Blues were able to refine their automatisms without their star Earvin Ngapeth, the striker / receiver of Kazan being touched to the ribs and should not return to the match before the start of next week.
After a first set slightly hung, the team of Benjamin Toniutti accelerated to complete the business in less than 64 minutes of play (25-19, 25-14, 25-16), with Nicolas Le Goff impeccable attack and Kévin Le Roux intractable against.
Hérault spectators (4,971), including Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu, were able to warm up for the rest of the competition, with several "Allez les Bleus!" who escaped from the stands.
"It was not a full room, but it was a great atmosphere, I was pleasantly surprised, and I hope it will be like that for the rest of the competition," Jenia Grébennikov said after the match.
The fans were enthusiastic about some spectacular actions, including a Julien Lyneel rescue over the table in the first set (10-7).
"There were two or three spectacular points in the first set that warmed up the room, there were some very good actions, it shows the determination of the players, to want to shine and want to win," said the coach Laurent Tillie.
Its players want to take advantage of this Euro at home and a possible final phase (half and final) in Bercy to erase their failures in the last three major championships (Olympic Games 2016, Euro-2017 and Mondial-2018).
They will enjoy a day of rest Friday then return to the field Saturday (17:15) against Greece, and Sunday (17:30) against Portugal. Serious things will begin Monday (20:45) with Bulgaria and especially Wednesday against Italy (20:30).
© 2019 AFP