Montpellier (AFP)

For their first major test in the group phase of "their" Euro-2019, the French volleyball players have once again made a very clean copy, against Bulgaria's Tsvetan Sokolov, winning 3 sets to 0, Monday night Montpellier.

This clear and uneventful victory (25-19, 25-21, 25-14) ensures the French one of the first two places of the group, and especially allows them to avoid an eighth final against Russia, champion of Europe and aiming for the double.

And as good news never comes alone, Laurent Tillie's players have benefited from the return of their star receptionist / striker, Earvin Ngapeth, the time of two services in the first set, a sign that his muscle injury at the ribs belongs now in the past.

At the age of 23, the sharp tricolor Stéphen Boyer still dazzled the 5,021 spectators of the South Arena of France, gaining the upper hand over his Bulgarian alter ego Tsvetan Sokolov. After his 25 points against Greece, Boyer ended the match with 16 points (including two blocks), while Sokolov missed out on his match in the third set.

This success confirms the impressions left against Romania, Greece and Portugal: this French team is extremely focused on its minimum goal, which is to join Paris and the legendary Bercy arena for the last four of the continental competition, after three failures at the 2016 Olympic Games, Euro 2017 and World Cup 2018.

European champions in 2015, on the lands of Bulgaria, the Blues have made an ideal start to meeting, escaping in the first set, under the blows of Montpelliérain Julien Lyneel, perfect in the role of Ngapeth substitute, and Kevin Le Roux serving.

The central future of Beijing was spared at the end of the morning for training, because of ischia pain, but the ultrasound performed in the morning revealed nothing, allowing Laurent Tillie to align his central early in the morning. the encounter.

The second and third rounds were certified copies, the Bulgarians failing to disrupt the blue mechanics very well oiled on rare occasions on services of Todor Skrimov.

The French will play their last group match against Italy on Wednesday night in Montpellier (20:30), before joining Nantes for the 8th and quarter-finals, from Saturday night.

© 2019 AFP