Montpellier (AFP)
"I feel like it was yesterday that I started in France," said Benjamin Toniutti, captain of the French volleyball team who will know his 300th cape in blue against Italy, Wednesday (8.30 pm), for the final group match of Euro-2019 volleyball.
Q: How do you feel before playing his 300th match with the France team?
A: "I did not even know that I will have 300 caps for this match against Italy, it's your colleague from L'Equipe who told me before the competition. It's been going so fast, it's been ten years and about thirty games a season, that's right, I've missed eight games out of ten, where I've been rested for three weekends. League of Nations or World League Three hundred is a lot, but it does not change the state of mind and envy.We just notice that we took a little age, c 'is all."
Q: Are there more memorable selections than others?
A: "The selections with the victories, necessarily, the first title in the World League in 2015, the first title to the Euro also in 2015. We inevitably remember more of certain selections than others. it was a defeat against Italy in 2010 in the World League It goes quickly.When we hear the old end of career say + Enjoy, it's going fast career! +. That's right, I have the impression that it was yesterday that I started in France and there is always so much pleasure to be there and it is not finished. "
Q: And to close the loop, this 300th appearance in the blue jersey will be against Italy, like the first.
A: "It's a beautiful poster, but I do not think about this day of the 300. For me, it's just a number, it's a match like any other, it's a last group match. , with the aim of keeping the same intensity, and the same level of play, even if this match will be perhaps a little less important (the French are sure to finish in the first two of the group, Ed) But in any case It will be necessary to keep the mood and not fall into a false rhythm We played yesterday (Monday), we will play a decisive match Saturday, so we must not lose the pace especially in the intensity. "
Interview at a press point
© 2019 AFP