The Nations League tournament will proceed without two of its biggest stars

Gdańsk was preparing to host some of the biggest stars of world volleyball, including the Olympic gold medalists from Paris. Expectations for spectacular battles were huge, but it turned out that two of the leading teams would arrive in Poland without their key players.

The French national team will be deprived of the presence of its leader Earvin Ngapeth. As reported by Patrick Favier in the publicationsudouest.frthe "roosters" outside hitter has been instructed to miss the remainder of the Nations League after medical tests. The reason is a knee problem, which requires him to undergo a rehabilitation program at the famous CERS sports rehabilitation center in Capbreton. The goal is for Ngapeth to be fully ready for the World Championship in the Philippines in September.

From the Polish side, a major figure will also be missing — captain Bartosz Kurek. This means that the long-awaited clash between France and Poland, which is set to close the tournament at Ergo Arena on July 21, will take place without the brightest stars of the two teams.

Gdańsk to host teams from three continents

The Nations League volleyball tournament in Gdańsk will start on July 16 and will gather teams from six countries: Iran, Bulgaria, Cuba, China, France, and the hosts from Poland. The first match pits China against France, and the last will be precisely the France – Poland encounter — a match between the Olympic champions and vice-champions.

Despite the absence of Ngapeth and Kurek, the competition promises a lot of excitement. Currently, the French are in fifth place in the standings with 15 points after 8 matches played (5 wins), lagging 5 points behind leader Brazil and leading ninth-placed Cuba by only two points. This makes every victory particularly valuable in the fight for a place in the final phase.

A look at the World Championship – France's big goal

For France, the big goal remains the World Championship, which will take place from September 12 to 28 in the Philippines. The "roosters" were drawn into Group C along with Argentina, Finland, and Korea. In the previous championship, the French reached the quarterfinals, where they were eliminated by Italy.

Earvin Ngapeth's rehabilitation in Capbreton is a guarantee that coach Andrea Giani's team will be in optimal form precisely for the World Cup battles. Until then, fans will have to settle for the hope that the other stars will offer a spectacle in Gdańsk, even without two of the greatest contemporary volleyball aces on the court.