The French national team suffered its second consecutive loss in this year's Volleyball Nations League (VNL), after surprisingly falling to Turkey 0:3 (23:25, 25:27, 21:25) in their third match of the tournament in Ottawa (Canada). The defeat comes just a day after the loss against hosts Canada and puts the two-time Olympic champions in an unusual situation early in the competition.
After the dramatic five-set victory over Italy at the start, Andrea Giani's squad failed to find the necessary freshness in their third match in three days. The Turks demonstrated exceptionally stable play and deservedly achieved one of the most significant victories in their history against the reigning Olympic champion.
Already in the first set, the French experienced serious difficulties against the opponent's aggressive serve and powerful attack. At the heart of the Turkish superiority was the opposite hitter Adis Lagumdzija, who scored 20 points and was the top scorer in the match. He led his team to a 25:23 victory in the opening set.
The second set offered the most dramatic moments of the match. The French were seriously trailing at 15:23 but showed character and managed to narrow the gap to 22:23 after an impressive serving run by captain Antoine Brizard. The setter finished the match with 2 aces and 3 successful blocks, and Thomas Pujol also successfully joined the game, bringing additional energy from the bench.
Despite the impressive comeback, "Les Bleus" failed to turn the tide, and Turkey closed out the second set 27:25, which proved to be the decisive moment of the match.
In the third set, the Turks maintained their confidence and did not allow the French to get back into the match. Their stable play in all elements led to a 25:21 success and the final 3:0.
The top scorer for France was Stephen Boyer with 16 points, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the Olympic champions' second consecutive defeat.
After the match, captain Antoine Brizard admitted that the team is experiencing difficulties:
"Turkey played a very strong match and put us under immense pressure. We couldn't free ourselves mentally. I feel like we're playing with fear. We need a positive impulse; we must start winning sets and matches to overcome this moment."
Head coach Andrea Giani also emphasized the accumulated fatigue in the squad:
"This was a complex match. There was significant fatigue in attack, and without effective offense, it's difficult to win. Now we must use the rest day to recover and be ready for Germany."
The loss is particularly unpleasant for France, as it comes against a team not among the traditional favorites in world volleyball. After three matches played, the French have a record of one win and two losses, the same as their upcoming opponent Germany.
In their last match of the tournament in Ottawa, the French will face the Germans on Sunday, with victory appearing mandatory for Giani's team if they want to conclude the first week of VNL on a positive note.
France's Results in VNL 2026
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| June 10 | France – Italy | 3:2 (19:25, 29:27, 23:25, 25:23, 16:14) |
| June 12 | Canada – France | 3:1(25:20,25:18,21:25,27:25) |
| June 13 | Turkey – France | 3:0(25:23,27:25,25:21) |
The two consecutive defeats show that the Olympic champions are still looking for their optimal rhythm at the start of the tournament. Particularly alarming is the fact that against Canada and Turkey, the French lost five of the six sets played, and their attack efficiency significantly decreased compared to the victory over Italy. For Turkey, this success is a serious statement for higher ambitions in the VNL, while France will have to quickly find solutions before the next challenges in the tournament.
