Tallinn (AFP)

The French volleyball players, Olympic champions a month ago in Tokyo, took place on Wednesday against modest Latvia by signing a fourth victory in as many games in the first round of Euro-2021 which should earn them first place in the group.

By winning 3 sets to 0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-17), the French can even afford to lose in the tie break their last meeting Thursday night against Estonia and still finish the first phase. in the first place.

Wednesday evening, for the first time since the start of the Blues tournament a week ago in Tallinn, Estonia on the shores of the Baltic, Benjamin Toniutti's teammates achieved a full match, without knowing any weak time, dominating the Latvian bloc attacked.

"It was the easiest match because we put a lot of intensity, that's what the coach required. We went well by really attacking them. That's what made the match easier", Libero Jenia Grebennikov explained after the meeting.

"We are ramping up, I hope it will continue," he added.

The joy of French volleyball players after their victory against Germany, September 6, 2021, during Euro-2021 in Tallinn RAIGO PAJULA AFP

If the new coach of the France team, Bernardinho decided at the start of the meeting to keep the base of his team aligned for a week, he nevertheless allowed in the third set to the young Mousse Gueye (central) and François Rebeyrol (striker -receiver) to register their first points of this Euro-2021, respectively 4 and 5.

- Reunion with Enard -

"We brought in a lot of guys who show that they really have the level. It's great, frankly. In addition, we enjoy the field, we start to be more and more clean. We are very focused. We continue because the hardest part happens, "said the 30-year-old libero, who will play in St. Petersburg next season.

In the end, while they had spent 79 minutes on the field against Slovakia and 77 minutes against Croatia, the Blues folded the match in 70 minutes, retaining their strength for the next meetings while this Euro takes place at the end of 'an interminable summer after the League of Nations (end of May and June) and the Olympic Games (end of July and beginning of August).

French volleyball players Jean Patry, Barthélémy Chinenyeze and Trevor Clévenot block the smash of German Ruben Schott, during their match of the 1st round of Euro-2021, September 6, 2021 in Tallinn RAIGO PAJULA AFP

Thursday, the band at Earvin Ngapeth will find a familiar face with Cédric Enard, who was Laurent Tillie's assistant in the France team from May 2017 to December 2019, and who now coaches Estonia.

After this last group match, the French will head to Ostrava in the Czech Republic for the 8th and quarter-finals.

© 2021 AFP