We saw them ready to go out through the little door, they came back through the window.
This Tuesday evening (2:30 p.m. in France), the French volleyball players play an Olympic quarter-final against Poland.
If the Poles are logically favorites, Earvin Ngapeth and his teammates do not intend to miss their chance.
Before going to treatment to prepare for one of the great meetings in the history of hexagonal volleyball, the receiver-attacker was kind enough to share the state of mind of the Blues.
What state of mind are you in before playing Poland?
EARVIN NGAPETH.
We are happy, super happy to be in the quarterfinals.
After that, it was a bit of a scramble to recuperate.
We did a little training on Monday morning, our treatments, the video… We can't wait to get back to the fight.
There was fatigue over the last two games which followed one another because we played super late
(Editor's note: victory against Russia)
and early the day after
(Editor's note: loss in the tie-break against Brazil )
.
It's a complicated competition, there are big games every two days but it's the Games.
We fought to get our qualification but we were ready for that.
How do you explain your metamorphosis over the last two meetings?
It's kind of our story.
We are able to beat everyone but also to lose against anyone.
We can miss some super important games, and get up and come back.
Being with our backs to the wall, having nothing to lose has freed us.
We played less tense, we had fun and it did.
We know that's the way to play.
However, you were totally paralyzed at the start of the competition ...
Ah yes !
(Laughs)
Especially the way it started against the Americans… We really said to
ourselves
:
it's starting again!
We all said so.
We talked about it after the game.
We all said:
p… At 0-5, it's the same as against the Italians five years ago.
Then we let go of the horses and things are going much better.
The game against Russia helped us a lot.
We saw what we were capable of and we approached the game against the Brazilians more calmly.
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Was there a particular turning point, a saving discussion like the girls of the hand?
I don't think there was a pivotal moment.
We did not really discuss because after the match against the Argentines
(Editor's note: loss in the tie-break),
we were really devastated.
There was a hot little chat where everyone was a little annoyed, pissed off.
Having a day off behind and still having a chance to be alive, we thought maybe that was a sign and we took that chance.
What was the role of coach Laurent Tillie?
He told us:
guys, we're all at the bottom of the hole but we still have this little chance, the tide can turn, we have to believe it.
You then think about all the work you have done, all the sacrifices, all the sanitary bubbles that you have had and you don't want to stop there.
Then you play Russia, confidence returns, doubts fly away.
And with the match we played against Brazil on Sunday, the batteries are recharging themselves.
To read alsoJO de Tokyo: "We are survivors", launches Laurent Tillie after the qualification of French volleyball players
Is it a new tournament opening?
Yes, this is a new tournament and it starts with a big chunk.
It is clear that they are favorites but we are not at all afraid of Poland and we will play our card to the full.
We'll see how it goes.
With the Poles it's always very, very tense.
(Smile)
If they come and mess with us, we also know how to answer ...
You know each other by heart.
What makes the difference?
There are just small trends that emerge according to the competitions.
We all know each other really well, we know how to play each other.
It is above all mental.
These matches are won in the head, not in the physical.
He is the one who wants it the most, who fights, who wins.
Do you still have room for improvement?
We know we had a good game against the Brazilians but despite that, there are a few small details that make you think we can do a lot better. It bodes well for the future ...