Ostrava (Czech Republic) (AFP)

The French volleyball players, Olympic champions a month ago in Tokyo, fell from high and into the trap set by the Czech Republic in the round of 16 of Euro-2021 in Ostrava on Monday, drily beaten and prematurely eliminated.

The seven match points saved by the band at Earvin Ngapeth will ultimately only postpone by several minutes the deadline and the defeat of the France team even before the quarter-finals of the European Championship, against this same Republic. Czech who had taken out the French at the same stage of the competition at Euro-2017.

Four years ago, it took place in Katowice in Poland, while on Monday evening, it was in the hall of the Ostrava ice hockey team, in front of an audience of nearly 4,000 people, standing for nearly 'a quarter of an hour on the end of the third set (and the match) that the French failed.

"We didn't play our game, we got frustrated. We know that's our big weakness: when we're supposed to be favorites, we're not good. We get frustrated quickly. It's been years since that's how it is, we have to find the solution, "explained in the mixed zone the passer of the Blues, Antoine Brizard.

- "More freshness mentally" -

One of the central of the France team, Nicolas Le Goff had warned: the great danger was to let the Czechs "catch fire" with the support of the public.

This is what happened from the first four points of the game with two winning serves from Jan Galabov, and two blocks to allow the hosts to lead 4-0.

Having started too far in this round, the French gave in at the end (25-22), despite a wind of revolt which will ultimately only be a light breeze.

After a failed second round (25-19), the French took control of the third, but again saw Jakub Janouch's teammates pick up for a suspenseful end to the match.

The intractable Czech defense on a smash from Jean Patry during the defeat of the Blues in Ostrava, September 13, 2021 Michal CIZEK AFP

The video arbitration in favor of the French on the match point at 30-29, while the public celebrated the victory too early, was not enough for the Blues to overthrow mountains, as they were able to do in Tokyo on the road to the Olympic coronation against Poland in the quarter-finals.

"This is no excuse, but after the summer that we lived, we no longer had the mental freshness to succeed in pushing them around," said Brizard.

- First round too easy?

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Yet the French adventure at Euro-2021 on the shores of the Baltic in Tallinn had started perfectly, with five victories in as many games, and only one set lost against Germany.

A first round too easy?

"Everyone was afraid of that, that we arrive in the round of 16 against an opponent from a pool that was better. There was all of the game trap," added the passer.

"They had a lot of aggressiveness and success. (...) They played well, they hit a lot of balls on the block, they slowed us down," regretted the captain of the Blues Benjamin Toniutti.

The first experience under the era of Bernardinho therefore ended prematurely, while the French were aiming for the last four of the competition and a third podium this summer after bronze in the League of Nations and gold in the Olympics.

"Today, we came across a well-prepared team. And faced with the first difficulty, our team looked for solutions. What to do? We made a lot of mistakes technically," said the new coach.

After a League of Nations which will serve as preparation, an appointment is made for the 2022 World Cup in Russia, the only international title that the golden generation of French volleyball is missing.

© 2021 AFP