A month after the triumph of Tokyo and their gold medal, the French volleyball players have already resumed service to launch an assault on the European Championship.
With a new coach, the Brazilian Bernardo Rezende in place of Laurent Tillie.
For their first match, played in Tallinn, Estonia, against Slovakia, Earvin Ngapeth's teammates made a clean copy but without shining: 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-19)
Faced with a formation that France had beaten eight times out of eight in its history in international competition, the Blues started rather sluggishly. By content to manage until the end a lead taken at the start of the set. They finally win (25-22). “Physically, it's okay, sighed Earvin Ngapeth in the premises of the Parisian this week. It is especially mentally that it is hard. Leaving after this title was a bit complicated. We wrote to each other: But how are we going to go back and get a medal? We are all mentally cooked. But then, without realizing it, you're in it. We don't want to ruin everything with a failed Euro. "
The second set perfectly illustrates the French difficulties, especially mental ones, in putting their opponent under pressure.
Faced with solid Slovaks but not at the intrinsic level of Olympic champions, France is playing with fire.
But at the end of the set, a welcome acceleration allows the Blues to take an option on the match (25-20).
Without being a formality, the third set is a one-way street with the Blues who, without forcing, take the lead in the race not to let go (25-19).
France will play its second match this Sunday at 6 p.m. against Croatia before facing the toughest opponent in Group D the next day, Germany.
For the Blues, the hardest part is ahead of them.
