WCH 2022: What a match! France defeat Japan at tie break to fly to quarterfinals!

After Ukraine eliminated Netherlands, Japanese warriors led by Nishida touched another upset against France, but Olympic champions go to quarter-finals.

It would’ve been an immense sensation if Japan had gone all the way against France, but they succumbed in the tie-break (25:17, 21:25, 26:24, 22:25, 18:16) of the Round of 16 of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Volleyball Championship.
The winning mentality and the power of France was crucial for the outcome of a heartbreaking encounter in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The Olympic champions were pushed to their limits in a crazy match by a sometimes overexcited rival, but eventually they managed to get out of a compromised situation at the last moment to reach the quarter-finals, where they’ll face Italy in a true European classic.

France led twice in sets, but the Asians came back and even took a 4-1 lead in the tie-break and, even one match ball.
For that, they can mostly thank superstar Yuji Nishida, who ended the game with 31 points and 57.50% attack, 28/40.
Outside hitters Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi also played a big role in the Japanese performance, with the team captain tallying 22 points (19 kills, one block and two aces) and the other adding another 11 (9 kills, one block, one ace).
The resourcefulness of French players in the key moments of the last period was amazing as they succeeded in converting every single “no one’s“ ball into their favor.
The match saw in fact a great balance between the teams in the key stats, with France prevailing in blocks (11 to eight) and both sides registering identical production in attacks (64 each) and aces (five).

Barthélémy Chinenyeze (66.67% attack; 14/18), Earvin Ngapeth (including the game-winning one), and Stéphen Boyer each scored 17 points on the winning side.
Another key to the French victory was also the substitution that brought backup opposite Stephen Boyer into the match in the second set for Jean Patry. He helped raise the team’s level, scoring 16 attacks and one block.

Interestingly, France and Italy met twice this season, both times in the Volleyball Nations League, and the Olympic champions won both encounters – one in the opening day and the other in the semifinals – in straight sets….

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🏐| 2022 FIVB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | ROUND OF 16

September 3, 2022 | 📍Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Slovenia – Germany 3-1 (25:18, 25:19, 21:25, 25:22)
• Italy – Cuba 3-1 (25:21, 21:25, 26:24, 25:18)

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September 4, 2022 | 📍Gliwice, Poland
• USA – Türkiye 3-2 (25:21, 25:17, 22:25, 19:25, 15:12)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• Poland – Tunisia 3-0 (25:20, 25:15, 25:20)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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September 5, 2022

17.30 (Local Time) | 📍Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Netherlands – Ukraine 0-3 (16:25, 19:25, 18:25)