REPLAY. Volleyball at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Imperial, the Blues leave no chance to the Italians and will defend their title

Against Germany, the Blues were able to react to reach the semi-final against Italy. CNOSF/KMSP – AGENCE KMSP

The French men's volleyball team dominated its semi-final of the Olympic tournament against Italy at the Arena Paris Sud 1, this Wednesday 7 (3-0).

A title to defend

Facing one of the best volleyball teams on the planet, the Blues raised their level of play with a solid defense and an intelligent attack. The reigning world champions Italy, who have never won Olympic gold, were unable to compete with Les Bleus, supported by a frenzied crowd.

In the final, Saturday at 1 p.m., France will face Poland, who defeated the United States (3-2) to go for a second consecutive title after Tokyo in 2021.

A match to relive here:

21h27.

France 3 – 0 Italy

21h27.

25-21

Ngapeth destroys Romano's head with a smash that ends up in the stands.

21h26.

24-21

Ngapeth takes the block at left, it falls on the French side.

9:25 p.m.

24-20

Michieletto aces Grebennikov. Time out for France. There are four match points left.

9:24 p.m.

24-19

Lavia takes stock in short.

9:24 p.m.

24-18~6 0~/h2>

Giannelli serves too long.

9:24 p.m.

23-18

Clevenot puts his serve in the net.

9:23 p.m.

23-17

Romano puts on too much and can't find his fingers.

9:23 p.m.

22-17

Service in the Patry net.

9:22 p.m.

22-16

Patry's winning serve.

21h22.

21-16

Clevenot continues his block-out festival, Giannelli is caught this time.

9:21 p.m.

20-16

Le Goff touches Galassi's attack which had gone far.

21h21.

20-15

Romano finds the target on his attack, blue dot.

21h20.

19-15

Patry is found on the right and goes far behind the ball to find the block-out.

21h19.

18-15

Chinenyeze is blocked by Galassi in short. Timeout for France to cut off the Italian comeback.

21h19.

18-14

Romano still finds space between the hands of the block.

21h18.

18-13

Ngapeth continues!

21h17.

17-13

Brizard serves in the filet.

9:17 p.m.

17-12

Lavia completely misses his attack which goes straight.

21h16.

16-12

Clevenot is found 3m away who drops the ball into the free space of the Italian field.

21h15.

15-12

Porro finds a nice short diagonal and Ngapeth can do nothing.

21h15.

15-11

Ngapeth lights up the left line.

21h14.

14-11

The block stops the ball but it falls on the blue side.

21h14.

14-10

Galassi serves too long.

21h13.

13-10

Lavia is found in the pipe and deceives Grebennikov in the cross.

9:13 p.m.

13-9

Le Goff calms Romano with a huge block. New Italian timeout.

21h12.

12-9

Grebennikov finds Ngapeth at 3m who sinks into the back of the court.

21h11.

11-9

Chinenyeze misses another serve, too long.

21h11.

11-8

Clevenot takes another the block-out!

21h11.

10-8

Service in the net of Romano.

21h10.

9-8

Galassi is found short and finds space in the center.

21h09.

9-7

Patry went very high to get this attack at the back of the court.

9:09 p.m.

8-7

Romano scores easily on the right by passing again in the middle of the block.

9:08 p.m.

8-6

Porro puts his serve out of the court.

9:07 p.m.

7-6

Patry is too long and is not touched by the block. Challenge requested by France. Challenge failed.

9:07 PM.

7-5

Russo's attack in the center who takes the hands.

9:07 PM.

7-4

Patry shoots long line on the right!

9:06 PM.

6-4

Porro crosses his shot too much but it hits Le Goff's finger.

9:05 p.m.

6-3

Clevenot comes back and holes Russo's counter.

9:05 p.m.

5-3

Clevenot doesn't find the solution this time, Russo is on the counter.

9:04 p.m.

5-2

Patry serves into the net.

9:04 p.m.

5-1

Le Goff sinks in short over the counter.

9:02 p.m.

4-1

Porro is blocked by Brizard after two huge defenses! Time out for Italy, already.

9:02 p.m.

3-1

Patry finds the long line block-out.

21h02.

2-1

Chinenyeze serves into the net.

21h01.

2-0

Clevenot is blocking Lavia, it falls back into it!

21h01.

1-0

Chinenyeze is found short and lead in the center.

9:00 p.m.

Third set

Italy starts this third set.

8:57 p.m.

France 2 – 0 Italy

Once again concentrated in this set, the Blues came back from a 3-point deficit to inflict a 12-5 on the Italians to conclude this set.

8:57 p.m.

25-21

Louati's ace to conclude this second set.

8:56 p.m.

24-21

Clevenot at 3m slams a super-powerful attack.

8:56 p.m.

23-21

Romano makes a net fault on the block while Ngapeth's attack was not dangerous.

8:54 p.m.

22-21

Romano finds space in the block to finish. What a defense from Grebennikov before.

8:53 p.m.

22-20

Clevenot puts the ball on the counter's arm to go for the block-out.

8:53 p.m.

21-20

Russo puts Italy back in the game with a quick short attack that is quicker than Le Goff.

20h53.

21-19

Galassi serves too long.

20h52.

20-19

Michieletto blocks Clevenot.

20h51.

20-18

Clevenot takes the block-out on Giannelli, the Blues are unstoppable!

8:51 p.m.

19-18

Lavia puts the serve in the net.

8:51 p.m.

18-18

Ngapeth's serve is too long.

8:49 p.m.

18-17

Chinenyeze blocks on Lavia. Timeout requested by Italy who have just taken a 5-1.

20h49.

17-17

Ngapeth's attack is countered and Clevenot takes over first intention without a counter!

8:48 p.m.

16-17

Clevenot attacks at 3m and finds the arm of the block and it hits it!

8:48 p.m.

15-17

Brizard serves too long.

8:47 p.m.

15-16

New block-out for Ngapeth on Romano.

20h46.

14-16

Ngapeth finds the block-out on the left on Romano.

20h45.

13-16

Lavia finds space again at the back of the field.

20h45.

13-15

Romano finds a short cross attack too fast for the counter.

20h45.

13-14

Service into the net by Michieletto.

20h44.

12-14

Lavia finds space on the left to attack between the arms of Le Goff.

20h43.

12-13

Michieletto scores a new ace. Timeout requested by France.

8:42 p.m.

12-12

Brizard net fault on the counter.

8:42 p.m.

12-11

Clevenot sinks very short and crossed.

8:41 p.m.

11-11

Brizard attacks with a first intention but Russo's counter was in place.

8:41 p.m.

11-10

Romano scores the point again. He pierces Le Goff's counter.

8:40 p.m.

11-9

Carried ball whistled against Michieletto.

8:37 p.m.

10-9

What a point! Several exceptional recoveries and defenses that end with a ball pushed out by Michieletto. Challenge requested by Italy. The level of play has clearly increased since the quarters. Challenge won by Italy.

8:37 p.m.

10-8

Patry destroys Lavia on his attack in the back of the field.

8:36 p.m.

9-8

Romano finds Ngapeth's defense but he can't handle the power of the attack.

8:35 p.m.

9-7

Patry answers him and in turn finds the block-out on Galassi.

8:34 p.m.

8-7

Lavia recovers and finds the block-out.

8:34 p.m.

8-6

Brizard finds consistency in service and bombards Lavia. Timeout requested by Italy.

20h33.

7-6

Lavia misses her attack, she is too crossed.

20h33.

6-6

Russo's service too long.

20h32.

5-6

Ngapeth can't find his fingers and his attack is long.

20h32.

5-5

Michieletto places an ace then a too long serve.

20h31.

4-4

Russo finds a well-weighted short.

20h31.

4-3

Patry finds the block-out after a exceptional defense of Italy.

8:30 p.m.

3-3

Clevenot finds the hands of the block and it comes out.

8:29 p.m.

2-3

Russo finds the gap in the blue defense.

8:29 p.m.

2-2

Galassi serves into the stands.

20h29.

1-2

Block-out found by Galassi.

20h29.

1-1

Romano puts too much power and attacks out.

20h28.

0-1

Giannelli pushes the ball first hand and deceives the defense blue.

8:26 p.m.

Second set

France will start this second set on serve.

8:25 p.m.

France 1 – 0 Italy

Serious and diligent, France gradually pulled away in this first set. Perfect start for the Blues.

8:24 p.m.

25-20

The pipe for Clevenot who finds the Italian fingers.

8:24 p.m.

24-20

Service out of Brizard.

20h23.

24-19

Ngapeth finds the counter but it remains on the Italian side. 5 set balls!

8:23 p.m.

23-19

Brizard releases the service at the right time! On the line!

20h22.

22-19

Missed service from Michieletto.

8:22 p.m.

21-19

Jouffroy's service too long.

8:21 p.m.

21-18

Chinenyeze is still lagging in the short attack, it cannot be recovered by Italy. New timeout for Italy.

8:20 p.m.

20-18

Ngapeth left hand! He takes the block-out.

20h19.

19-18

Romano finds the block-out in the center at 3m.

20h18.

19-17

Ngapeth finds the block-out and new break for France. Timeout requested by Italy.

20h17.

18-17

Patry finds the fingers of the block on his long attack.

20h16.

17-17

Clevenot hits the target with the ball after a new rally.

20h16.

17-16

Galassi is found in short and takes the block-out.

8:15 p.m.

17-15

Very gently, Clevenot drops the ball along the line, bypassing the counter.

8:15 p.m.

16-15

Lavia takes the score back for Italy.

8:14 p.m.

16-14

Le Goff weighs down the central sector after three huge defenses by the Italians.

8:14 p.m.

15-14

Clevenot finds Giannelli's out-block.

8:14 p.m.

14-14

8:13 p.m.

14-13

Ngapeth serves winner on Lavia!

8:13 p.m.

13-13

Service too long from Russo.

8:12 p.m.

12-13

Romano didn't find a counter in front of him and scores easily.

8:12 p.m.

12-12

Three successive attacks from Ngapeth to find the block-out.

8:11 p.m.

11-12

Block-out found by Russo on Chinenyeze.

20h11.

11-11

Giannelli's net serve.

20h10.

10-11

Russo finds a short ball behind the block.

20h10.

10-10

Giannelli's net serve. Galassi.

8:09 p.m.

9-10

Clevenot takes Giannelli's block after another grueling exchange.

8:09 p.m.

9-9

Le Goff weighs down the center and crosses his attack well.

8:09 p.m.

8-9

Chinenyeze takes the net again on serve.

8:08 p.m.

8-8

Clevenot pierces the block on the left side.

20h08.

7-8

A nice pipe for Michieletto who takes the block-out.

20h07.

7-7

Chinenyeze drops a quick pass to the center.

20h07.

6-7

Service out of Brizard.

8:07 p.m.

6-6

Chinenyeze is still too fast for the Italian counter.

8:06 p.m.

5-6

Block-out found by Romano after a nice exchange.

8:05 p.m.

5-5

Special Ngapeth left hand to bypass the block and the reception does not recover not.

20h05.

4-5

Patry's attack is out. Challenge requested but lost by France.

20h03.

4-4

Le Goff is found in short attack and his attack is hit by the block. Challenge requested by Italy who recovers the point.

20h03.

4-3

Pipe from Lavia who finds the block-out.

20h02.

4-2

Too long a serve from Galassi.

20h02.

3-2

Romano takes revenge and sinks his attack in the back of the court.

20h02.

3-1

Clevenot's winning counter on Romano.

20h01.

2-1

Pipe for Ngapeth who finds the block.

20h01.

1-1

Missed serve from Chinenyeze in the net.

20h01.

1-0

Chinenyeze is served in the center and scores the first point.

7:56 p.m.

First set

Italy begins the first set.

7:30 p.m.

H – 30'

The rivalry between France and Italy is no longer in doubt in volleyball. The ties between the two countries are very close, as evidenced by the exiles Ngapeth, Brizard and Chinenyeze who play in Italy.

7:15 p.m.

H – 45'

The Italians strolled through the group stage, beating Brazil (3-1), Egypt (3-0) and Poland (3-1). The quarter-final was much more contested since the Transalpines had to come back from two sets down against Japan to win in the tie-break 17-15.

19h00.

H – 60'

To reach the semi-final, the Blues battled in the group stage to overcome Serbia (3-2) before taking the measure of Canada (3-0) and coming up against Slovenia for first place (2-3). In the quarter-finals, the French suffered the German power before turning the match around and winning on the gong (3-2, 15-13 in the tie-break).

18h59.

H – 15'

The winner of this semi-final will face Poland for the title, which overturned the United States (3-2)!

18h58.

H – 15'