On a final attack, and a third match point, Earvin Ngapeth finally frees the Blues.
After an unbearable suspense.
Undefeated since the start of the competition, on a cloud, carried by an invisible force, France had the worst difficulties to defeat in five sets (25-17, 21-25, 26-24, 22-25, 18- 16), Monday evening in the Stozice Arena in Ljubljana (Slovenia), of a surprising and euphoric team from Japan during the round of 16 of the World Cup.
“We are relieved but also a little frustrated because we have the impression of having been dominated in the match, confides Ngapeth at the microphone of the Team after the duel.
They defended a lot, we knew that, but we had trouble putting the balls on the ground.
Congratulations to them, but good game or not, the important thing was to win.
The adventure goes on.
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The French save a match point
The good series of the French against this opponent - six successes in a row since a loss without stake during the Olympic qualifying tournament in June 2016 - almost ended at the worst of times.
Japan also got a match point in the tie-break and Philippe Blain, the former coach of the Blues from 2001 to 2012 now at the head of the Japanese selection, almost played a very nasty trick to his old team.
On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., France will face Italy in the quarter-finals of the competition.
"We know each other by heart with the Italians, it will be a big battle to get to the last four in Poland," warns Ngapeth.
Facing the Nazionale, the French players will indeed try to qualify for the semi-final of the World Cup.
A performance accomplished only twice in the history of the France team (in 2002 and 2014).
But the fight was hard.
Forced to rest for 6 days and the last group match - 8 days for some blue executives left to rest against Cameroon - Andrea Giani's players have ants in their legs at the start of the game.
They attack the meeting with passion, appetite.
Carried by an impeccable Barthélémy Chinenyeze and a "Magic" Earvin Ngapeth who delights, alternating power and subtle gestures like these attacks with their backs to the net, which have become his trademark, his signature, the Blues play their game in the first set quickly removed (25-17).
A real show of strength.
But the loss of this round seems to free the Japanese... and chloroform the French who lose their game.
The players from Japan finally let go of their shots and, on the wise advice of their coach, press where it hurts.
They are not 6th in the world ranking by chance.
The partners of the leaping Yuji Nishida now dictate the game (12-17) and win the 2nd set (21-25).
So unthinkable a few minutes ago!
The match enters another dimension.
The two teams go blow for blow.
Winning shots.
The situation is not getting better for the Blues with the release of Kevin Tillie, injured in the arch of the foot.
Renowned for their communicative joy in the field, the permanent smiles on their faces, Jenia Grebennikov's partners display the mask of bad days.
Fortunately Stephen Boyer, returned in place of Jean Patry, brings power in attack and the Blues, on their 4th set point, win the 3rd set (26-24).
A short-lived joy.
On their 5th set point, the Japanese snatch an agonizing tie-break (22-25).
A decisive round which ended after an incredible mano a mano and on the 3rd match point of the Blues.
The blue madness can invade the room.
“It was a completely crazy match, very hard, breathes Chinenyeze.
We knew it would be tough, we're just happy to have won.
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European champions in 2015, gold medalists at the Games last year and three-time winners of the World League (now VNL), the Blues are still in the race to win the only title missing from their list.
