The Olympic champions from France, led by Andrea Giani, announced their extended squad for the upcoming summer, in which "Les Bleus" will participate in the Nations League and the European Championship, and one of their key matches will be against Bulgaria – the last for both teams in the main phase of the VNL in Chicago.
Similar to Poland, the French are entering a new cycle with a clear strategy – rejuvenation and gradual building of a new core around a few proven leaders.
After a disappointing performance at the last World Championship, where France failed to advance from the group with Argentina, Finland, and South Korea, the team is undergoing a serious transformation. Third place in that group weighs heavily on the ambitions of the reigning Olympic champions, and this necessitated radical decisions.
Andrea Giani will not rely on a number of iconic figures. Jenia Grebennikov, Earvin Ngapeth, Yacine Louati, Kevin Tillie, Barthélémy Chinenyeze, Nicolas Le Goff, and Jean Patry remain out of the squad. Setter Benjamin Toniutti officially ended his career with the national team.
Against this backdrop, the selection is based on a combination of young and relatively inexperienced players, supported by several established names such as Trevor Clevenot and Antoine Brizard, who will have a key role in shaping the team's new image.
France Squad
Setters
Antoine Brizard
Amir Tizi-Oualou
Thomas Gill
Outside Hitters
Trevor Clevenot
Mathis Henno
Hilary Henno
Antoine Pothron
Timothée Carle
Thomas Pujol
Opposites
Théo Faure
Stephen Boyer
Nathan Ferral
Libero
Benjamin Diez
Luca Ramon
Middle blockers
François Huetz
Joris Seddik
Daniel Yegegbekedo
Hauekea Mare
Moussa Gey
Simon Manin
The French will not have time for a smooth transition. Already in their first matches of the Nations League, they will face the reigning world champion – a serious test for the rejuvenated squad.
Gianni's choice shows a clear long-term vision. The rejection of a large part of the "golden generation" is a risk, but also a necessary step after the failure at the World Championship. France is entering a transition period where results may vary, but the goal is to build a competitive squad for the next Olympic cycle.
A key factor will be how quickly the young players adapt to the demands of the highest level and whether leaders like Brizard and Clevenot will be able to stabilize the team in critical moments.
photo:volleyballworld.com
