France takes maiden VNL gold medal after a thrilling tie break with USA!

What a show!
France nearly squandered a 2-0 lead in sets against USA in the final of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, but they take the gold medal!

A year after their historical Olympic title in Tokyo, France National Team won a new international trophy, by prevailing in a suspenseful final in Bologna, Italy, against the United States 3-2 (16:25, 19:25, 25:15, 25:21, 10:15).
The day after perfectly playing the semi-final against the hosts of the final tournament, they team was so close to repeating the same against the North American side, getting 2-0 in sets.
The USA, however, didn’t want to let go and they managed to tie at 2-2. The fifth set was marked by a decisive series in the service of Antoine Brizard, as well as the attacks of Earvin Ngapeth, the best scorer of this game with 22 points, while Opposite Jean Patry also contributed with 17.
On the other side of the net, outside hitter Aaron Russell led the US scorers on 20 points while Torey Defalco, moved from the position of outside hitter opposite in the American line-up, changed the course of the game and almost led to a complete turnaround, finished with 13 points.

| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

This is the fifth gold medal for French volleyball after the two victories in the FIVB World League. in 2015 and 2017, one in the CEV European Championship (2015), and one in the Olympic Games (2021). Above all, this is the first title in VNL and an ideal start to his term of office for the new head coach Andrea Giani, waiting for FIVB World Championship in Poland and Slovenia, in August.

“We enjoy so much being together on the court. I think you can see that… We are super close outside the court and that’s the key. When we start playing with this energy and this chemistry, it’s hard to stop us,” said Antoine Brizard, setter of France after the game.

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🏐| VNL 2022: Final 8 @ Bologna

— July 20, 2022 —

• 18.00 (Local Time) QUARTERFINAL 1 | USA (3) – Brazil (6) 3-1 (20:25, 25:22, 25:23, 25:17)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• 21.00 (Local Time) QUARTERFINAL 2 | Italy (1) – The Netherlands (8) 3-1 (21:25, 25:22, 25:13, 25:22)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— July 21, 2022 —

• 18.00 (Local Time) QUARTERFINAL 3 | France (5) – Japan (5) 3-0 (26:24, 25:16, 25:20)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• 21.00 (Local Time) QUARTERFINAL 4 | Poland (2) – Iran (7) 3-2 (25:21, 24:26, 25:18, 16:25, 15:7)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

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— July 23, 2022 —

• SEMIFINAL 1 | 18.00 (Local Time) Poland – USA 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 13:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• SEMIFINAL 2 | 21.00 (Local Time) Italy- France 0-3 (22:25, 20:25, 15:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— July 24, 2022 —

• Bronze Medal Match| 18.00 (Local Time) Italy – Poland 0-3 (16:25, 23:25, 20:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

👉🏼 Gold Medal Match | 21.00 (Local Time) USA – France 2-3 (16:25, 19:25, 25:15, 25:21, 10:15)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

🏆| GALLERY OF AWARDS CEREMONY

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