The French men’s volleyball team has been gathered since Monday on the French Riviera. Objective: to sharpen their game before the World Championship in the Philippines, from September 12 to 28.
The holidays can wait. The players of the French men’s volleyball team started a two-week training camp in Cannes on Monday. This gathering marks the beginning of a five-week preparation cycle before the World Championship, scheduled in the Philippines in mid-September.
Andrea Giani, the head coach, has called up 17 players. The roster includes four players returning from injury: Earvin Ngapeth, Kévin Tillie, Quentin Jouffroy, and Joris Seddik. All are coming back from injuries or prolonged absences. They are key members of the team with different physical conditions from the other players who must work separately at first to gradually integrate into the group.
The group is complete after an international season marked by elimination in the quarterfinals of the Nations League against Slovenia. This defeat served as a reminder. The French team has no time to waste if they hope to regain the level they displayed during the last Olympic Games.
Two weeks in Cannes before Japan
The schedule includes daily training at the Palais des Victoires. This is an opportunity for some to meet the champions who inspired them just over a year ago. The players will face Serbia in a friendly match on August 20, in front of their home crowd. The team will then head to Okinawa, Japan, on August 25. This will be the last stop before the Philippines, with more focused work on game systems and automation.
The staff hopes to reduce the roster to 14 or 15 players before departing for Asia. Two names could secure a place on the final list: François Huetz and Mathis Henno. Their impressive summer gives them a chance to join the final selection.
While probably absent, Stephen Boyer remains on standby. Not included in this camp, he has been training individually and could be called up in case of an emergency replacement. “Always motivated” to return to the national team, the Réunion-born attacker has already indicated his availability to the staff.
An accessible first round
The World Championship will begin on September 12 in Quezon City, Philippines. The French team will face Argentina, Finland, and South Korea. This schedule offers hope for a well-managed start to the competition, before potential knockout matches.
For the French team, the challenge in the coming weeks is twofold: to get the players returning from injuries back in shape and to stabilize a still uneven squad. After Cannes and Okinawa, the French team will have to proceed with no room for mistakes. The World Championship could mark the end of a cycle for several veterans. Some players, having been part of the team for over a decade, are considering ending their international careers after this event.
The training camp in Cannes, although away from the spotlight of competition, will be crucial. It is here where the final roster spots will be contested and the foundation for a successful World Championship will be laid. Spectators present on August 20 will get a first glimpse of the progress in their preparation.
The list of 17 players called up:
Setters: Benjamin Toniutti, Antoine Brizard
Liberos: Jenia Grebennikov, Benjamin Diez
Outside hitters/attackers: Trévor Clevenot, Timothée Carle, Yacine Louati, Mathis Henno, Earvin Ngapeth, Kévin Tillie
Opposite: Théo Faure, Jean Patry
Middle blockers: Nicolas Le Goff, François Huetz, Barthélémy Chinenyeze, Quentin Jouffroy, Joris Seddik.
