Nice Premium: What is the assessment for France after the Volleyball World Championship?
Eric TANGUY: France finishes 11th at the end of an inconsistent competition; after a flawless first phase, the French team stumbled in the second round against the USA and Italy, which kept them from reaching the quarter-finals. It must be acknowledged that these two opponents are significant volleyball nations, and the level of play is very high, perhaps too high for a rejuvenated French team since its title as European Vice Champion.
The objectives set for France were to be in the top 10 worldwide, and we were close to achieving that. Let’s also not forget that Poland, which defeated France a year ago by winning the European championship in Turkey, ended up two places behind us!!
Nice Premium: What impact will this have on French volleyball?
Eric TANGUY: The volleyball world awaits victories and recognition. This slight underperformance will leave a bitter taste for our players. In France, we dream of achieving global supremacy like Brazil, but it won’t be today. Nonetheless, our country plays an important role on the global chessboard of volleyball, and we can still be proud of that.
Nice Premium: During the World Championship, a controversy arose following the exclusion of young Earvin N’GAPETH from the French group by the coach. What are the consequences?
Eric TANGUY: I don’t think we should talk about controversy. There was a verbal altercation between a player and his coach, which apparently got out of hand. I won’t take sides to say who is right or wrong; I would be incapable since I followed the “affair” on television and in the media like everyone else. Young N’GAPETH misbehaved and was immediately sanctioned by the coach. What happened afterward matters little. However, a positive point is that the group managed to react and remobilize to win the last match of the competition, which is a good thing and a real positive point.
As for the consequences, I have no idea. This weekend, during the federation’s board meeting where I sit, several administrators questioned the President about the FFVB’s position. He replied that initially, a commission composed of executive board members would handle this issue. We await their conclusions.
Nice Premium: What is the state of volleyball in Nice, and what are the predictions for the elite club Nice Volleyball?
Eric TANGUY: Volleyball in Nice is represented by two clubs, Nice Volleyball and ASPTT Nice, which are two heavyweights of departmental volleyball, together totaling over 550 licensees. Both clubs experience success at their respective levels and offer volleyball practice that meets all public expectations.
Making predictions for the Nice Volleyball season is difficult, as the season hasn’t started yet due to the World Championships, and without having seen the team, it’s hard to take a stand.
Nice Premium: Any small predictions anyway?
Eric TANGUY: Yes, of course. We know the club’s budget, which is in the last third of the French Pro A clubs. Today, the performance of a professional team often reflects its budget. It’s clear that some players are not accessible to Nice Volleyball because they are too expensive. However, in the past, the club has often been a discoverer of talent, which later proved to be excellent players, so anything is possible. The club has often shown us that money isn’t everything, and thankfully there are other parameters. So, as someone from Nice, I trust the team representing our city, and I see them in the top third of the championship.
