It was the shock of the hen.
The first life-size test for the heroes of Tokyo during this Euro.
After a perfect introduction with two successes obtained on the mark of 3-0 against the modest Slovaks and Croats, the Olympic champions challenged, this Monday evening, in the Saku Suurhall of Tallinn in Estonia, Germany, the vice-champion Europe in 2017 also undefeated since the start of the continental competition.
And the duel kept all its promises.
Jostled, the French ended up winning in four sets (31-29, 15-25, 25-22, 25-22).
They take a serious option for first place in their pool.
A ranking that should offer them a more affordable opponent in the round of 16.
"Germany had a good match, they defended really well," confides Earvin Ngapeth at the microphone of La Chaîne L'Équipe.
I have the impression that today we expected more an individual achievement than playing as a team.
But the main thing was to win.
"
#EuroVolleyM #ALLFRA 29-31 les Bleus win the first set on two consecutive aces from Théo Faure!
🤩 pic.twitter.com/8czf3Bsooj
- FFvolley (@FFvolley) September 6, 2021
From the start of the match, the two teams surrender blow for blow, each point is a fight.
The Blues will have to wait until the 7th set point, and two winning services from the young Théo Faure, 21, who had just come into play, to remove this first marathon round (31-29).
But instead of continuing their momentum, the players of Bernardo Rezende seem destabilized for the gain of this set.
Red card for Earvin Ngapeth
Tired and annoyed by a decision of one of the referees, a finicky hair which punishes a fault in the position of a player, the Blues multiply the faults and gestures of nervousness. The Brazilian coach, who speaks French during the timeouts, tries to calm his troops. In vain ! Earvin Ngapeth even gets a red card. The Nationalmannschaft takes advantage (15-25). This is the first set released by France since the start of the European campaign. The first for the successor of Laurent Tillie on the French bench.
This will be the only misstep of the match. Without being irresistible, the Blues regain their seriousness and, at times, their magic. They remove the next two sets without trembling. “We were badly embarked at one point, there was a little fatigue and the referees did not help us with their surprising decisions during the second set, indicates the sharp Jean Patry. But we fought hard to bring back this victory. We must remember this state of mind. We knew that the level would be higher than the first two games even if Germany played without Grozer (
Editor's note: main striker of the selection
). This allows you to see where we are from Tokyo. It's quite reassuring, after all. "
Thanks to this success, Jenia Grebennikov's partners temporarily take first place in their group. A ranking that will have to be reinforced on Wednesday against Latvia.