In one of the most surprising matches of the Women's Volleyball World Championship round of 16, France (14th in the world ranking) overcame China (5th) with a 3:1 set score in Bangkok. The Europeans showed incredible character and will, and the leadership role of captain Cazaux was crucial for the sensational success.
China – France 1:3 (20-25, 25-27, 25-22, 20-25)
The Frenchwomen, led by Spanish coach César González, played perhaps their strongest match in World Championship history and will now face the winner of the clash between Brazil and Dominican Republic.
Match statistics
| Category | China | France |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks | 56 | 63 |
| Block | 8 | 8 |
| Serve | 4 | 5 |
| Opponent errors | 22 | 21 |
| Total points | 90 | 97 |
France dominated in attack (63 against 56), which was the key to success. In block and serve, both sides neutralized each other. The difference came from the more effective offense of the Europeans and their ability to win long rallies.
Defense and organization play
| Category | China | France |
|---|---|---|
| Digs | 77 | 89 |
| Reception | 82 | 84 |
| Distribution (passes) | 134 | 146 |
Here, France's superiority is clearly visible. With 89 saved balls in defense against 77, Gonzalez's team demonstrated exceptional concentration and resilience. A slight advantage in reception (84 against 82) and better distribution (146 against 134) also tipped the scales.
Top scorers
| China | Points | France | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wang Y.Y. (7) | 15 | Cazaute (1) | 22 |
| Wu M.J. (1) | 13 | Ndiaye (7) | 20 |
Captain Cazaute was France's true inspirer with her 22 points, and Ndiaye complemented the attacking power with 20. Chinese stars Wang (15) and Wu (13) failed to find sufficient support from their other teammates.
France achieved a historic victory that will remain one of the championship's biggest shocks. The squad demonstrated not only physical but also mental resilience – in decisive moments, the French women played more boldly and organized. Now, an even tougher challenge awaits them – a quarter-final, possibly against the global powerhouse Brazil.
