France was on the verge of a historic sensation against one of the biggest forces in women's volleyball - Brazil. The Europeans took a 2:0 lead in sets and looked ready to shock the favorite, but the "Selecao" showed class and mental toughness, achieving a spectacular comeback -3:2 (21-25, 20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-13). The "Roosters" didn't give up until the end, even taking the lead in the tie-break, and then with immense effort managed to get within one point of the "Selecao" at the end of the match (13:14), but the class of the South Americans prevailed.
Thus, Brazil recorded a valuable victory and moved closer to the elimination phase, while France, despite the defeat, added an important point, which keeps them in second place in the group with 4 points.
Match Statistics
| Team | Attack | Block | Service | Opponent Errors | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 63 | 19 | 2 | 21 | 105 |
| France | 56 | 12 | 3 | 24 | 95 |
The Brazilians excelled in blocking (19 against 12) – a key factor in turning the match around. In attack, both sides were relatively even, but Brazil scored more points after long rallies and reduced their own errors in critical moments.
Individual Performances
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Cazaux (No. 1) | France | 20 |
| Gabi (No. 10) | Brazil | 18 |
| Bergman (No. 17) | Brazil | 16 |
| Ndiaye (No. 7) | France | 18 |
The French starCazauxled with 20 points and was the big figure for 'Les Bleus'.
Ndiaye added a strong 18. For Brazil, however, the balance was impressive – Gabi and Bergman combined for 34 points and showed leadership in crucial moments.
Game elements
| Element | Brazil | France |
|---|---|---|
| Digs in defense | 80 | 75 |
| Reception | 81 | 97 |
| Setting | 137 | 134 |
France had the upper hand in reception (97 to 81), which explains their strong start to the match. Nevertheless, Brazil compensated with greater defensive dynamism and more effective play in attack distribution.
Looking ahead
On Tuesday, the last matches of the group are coming up:
France - Greece
Brazil - Puerto Rico
If all goes according to expectations, Brazil and France will secure their spots in the knockout phase. The question that remains is who will finish first in the group.
photos:volleyballworld.com
