Eurovolley 2019: Poland beat France in straight sets and take bronze medal!

2 min read

28 September 2019 Ivan

The World Champions Poland are finishing one more competition with a medal: Vital Heynen’s team has defeated France to take the bronze at the men’s European Championship!
Poland placed third at EuroVolley 2019 after their ultimate victory against hosts France in straight sets. All the sets were tight but Heynen’s team, helped by a great experience in important matches, played better at the end of each one.
France had a better start of the game, leading 9-4, but they didn’t manage to keep the pace as the rivals side capitalised the opponent’s mistakes to win this part of the match 26-24.
In the second and the third, Poland had a control of the game, keeping the rival on the distance all the time and France couldn’t do anything to stop the Polish side Poland have earned the bronze medal, while Laurent Tillie’s team is staying empty handed.

Kubiak with 14 points and Leon with 18 were decisive for the winners in taking the bronze medal, eight years after their last one in Vienna, Austria. For France, Earvin Ngapeth ended the game with 18 points.
Paris’ AccorHotels Arena was once again home of an amazing match. Even if France missed to claim a medal, they offered an outstanding show in Montpellier, Nantes, and the capital. And the great final will be tomorrow: Slovenia will face Serbia at 5:30pm for gold!

–-PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH—

Laurent Tillie – France’s head coach:
“There is a lot of frustration and disappointment. We dreaded this match given what happened yesterday but the players showed a good face, they played fully until the last point, even if we lost 3-0.”

Nicolas Le Goff – France’s middle blocker:
“It’s a big disappointment. It was a tight match but they were able to make a difference at the end of each set; they aren’t nobodies, they’re the double world champions. Maybe the additional resting day helped them too.”

Kévin Tillie – France’s outside hitter:
“For sure, we’re really disappointed, but happy that the crowd was so big here in Paris. Placing fourth is horrible, we experienced it in 2014 at the World Championship but that’s sport.”

Jean Patry – France’s opposite:
“It was not easy coming in at 0-2, but nothing to lose on my part. It’s true that I haven’t played much so I need to let go, and enjoy the moment, which is exceptional here in Paris for the bronze medal. The context was difficult, we were tired, but the audience helped us a lot.”