France dispatched Italy in front of over 10,000 fans with a 3:0 victory (25:20, 25:21, 25:21) and will play against Poland in an attempt to defend their Tokyo 2020 title.
The beginning of the match in no way foreshadowed its end. In the first set, the teams locked horns, with the hosts taking the lead after the 13th point and not relinquishing the initiative until the end. Clevenot closed the set with a pipe attack. In the second part, the Italians even led briefly after 12:12, but managed to maintain their fragile lead only until 18:18, after which the French stepped on the gas and closed the set 25:21 after an ace from Clevenot.
Disheartened by the result, the Italians failed to take the lead even once in the third set. The main scorer for the "Azzurri" Alessandro Michieletto was broken on serve and replaced by Luca Porro, but even that didn't help. France methodically accumulated point after point with good defense and smart plays at the net. After a service into the net by captain Giannelli, France got their first match point at 24:19. The Italians managed to get two points back, but the final word belonged to Ngapeth, who with a powerful attack against the block ended the match.
One of France's most consistent players in their campaign at the Paris Games, Trevor Clevenot, registered another strong performance in the semifinals, leading the team with 17 points (2 blocks), while star Earvin Ngapeth added another 14 (1 ace).
Alessandro Michieletto, who was replaced by Luca Porro in the third set, only managed seven points.
For Italy, Yuri Romano and Roberto Russo were the most effective, with 10 points and 9 points (2 blocks) respectively.
Thus, France faces Poland for a second major clash between them in just over a month. In early July, the two national teams met in the semifinals of the Volleyball Nations League 2024, with the Olympic champions beating Poland in a tie-break in front of a home crowd in Łódź.
The French can become only the third nation to successfully defend an Olympic title in men's volleyball - the former USSR did it first, winning in Tokyo 1964 and Mexico City 1968, and the United States did the same in Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988. The France team in Paris 2024 has ten players who won gold in Tokyo three years ago.
Italy, on the other hand, will play for its seventh medal, having won three bronze and three silver medals in seven Olympic semifinals so far.
France will play against Poland in a European final at Paris 2024, scheduled to start at 14:00 on Saturday. Italy will face the United States for the bronze on Friday at 17:00.
photos :volleyballworld.com
