LEGENDARY MATCH | JAPAN 🇯🇵 vs FRANCE 🇫🇷 | Men's VNL 2022. Japan stepped onto the court ready to challenge the Olympic Champions… but France showed the world why they were still the kings of international volleyball 🇫🇷🔥
In this unforgettable Men’s Volleyball Nations League 2022 battle, France defeated Japan in straight sets 3-0, but the score does not tell the full story. Every rally was a war. Every point felt like a final.
⚡ Yuji Nishida fought with everything he had. ⚡ Ran Takahashi delivered incredible plays and impossible saves. ⚡ Japan’s speed and defense amazed the crowd once again.
But on the other side stood a French powerhouse led by Earvin N’Gapeth, Jean Patry, Benjamin Toniutti, and legendary libero Jenia Grebennikov. France’s experience, power, and world-class blocking proved too much to stop.
The clash between Japan’s lightning-fast volleyball and France’s Olympic-level physicality created one of the most exciting matches of VNL 2022. Long rallies, emotional celebrations, monster spikes, and unbelievable defense — this match had EVERYTHING volleyball fans could ask for.
This was more than just a group stage match… It was a battle between the future of volleyball and the reigning champions of the world.
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Video Summary
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This transcript captures a high-intensity volleyball match between France and Japan in the Men's Volleyball Nations League. Despite Japan's impressive agility, fast-paced attacks, and the standout performance of Nishida, France's consistency and powerful serving ultimately secure them a 3-0 victory, advancing them to the semi-finals in Italy.
Get around that huge block, even for Nishida, who is one of the smartest and
cagiest players in the world.
Patri to serve. Nice ball in.
First glimpse of Nishida! And he comes with a banked ball.
You give him some room, a little one and a half, one on one.
Look at that, the no-look turn down the line, past the block. That's what makes him so good.
The no-look.
Off-paced attack, that'll be gobbled up here by France.
Oh, that was a great touch in the block by Japan.
Oh, and that's gone right through Clivano.
Clivano's tried to get something going there earlier on in the rally, and here's that out-of-system set
that they're so good at, right between the block, right between the hands of Clivano.
In the rally, and here's that out-of-system set that they're so good at, right between the block,
right between the hands of Clivano.
Iwase doing as best he could, but it's going to be difficult to stop Nishida
in the kind of form he's in at the moment.
Well, they've got to move the ball around, have to.
Nice, really good work by Patri to find that.
I just was quietly, because that ball made it all the way over to us.
Passing is good again for Japan, and they're able to run the middle.
I mean, look at the flight of that pass.
That'll be France's point.
Iwase getting after him here.
Good ball in.
Excellent. Iwase popping up just to the side and above Legoff.
And you run this play, and it pushes.
I'm sure Legoff, one of the best blockers the last two seasons in the French League,
so wise advice from the coach.
Stay away from the big block.
Great cover.
Takanashi takes a little bit off of that one.
And once again, Patri now moving that ball down the line.
Again, this is what makes it difficult.
Loati with the serve.
Good ball in.
And a great block. That was a little bit slow, really.
And it meant Patri could help on the middle.
He didn't have to worry what was coming outside.
Loati once again.
Nishida.
Nishida and Sakita are a great advert for volleyball.
Nens Volleyball just showing you, you don't have to be the tallest to play this game.
No, you don't.
You can get it done and jump really well, too.
There's that.
Yes.
You've got to jump like a flea. That helps.
Well up by Sakita.
Easy one for Grebennikov.
Sakita again. He's watching this one.
Now that might just have caught Klevino.
Indeed it did.
It's all square again as well.
Oh, what a serve.
It will be brought back into play.
Down ball.
And a chance here for France, maybe.
And they will take it.
Error from Japan.
And it's now set point for France.
They just stepped it up when they needed to, haven't they?
And right idea.
Oh, great serve.
There's going to be a swing chance.
Patri for the set.
And he does it.
Mishida takes his hands out of the way thinking it's block out.
And it isn't going to be block out.
Quick arm.
Very quick arm.
Decent ball.
Oh, yes. Bounced through the middle by Yamauchi.
Very nice play.
Yamauchi up. Available.
Quick. You see the block is still on the ground.
Again, with that quick attack.
Got to match it.
Have to jump even before that ball is set to be able to stop it.
Nice from Patri.
He's got all the shots, hasn't he?
He's always in control of the ball.
It's really unbelievable watching him play.
It looks so simple, so easy.
Takes a nice, simple approach.
Oh, great serve.
Fantastic serve.
It's an ace.
And France now lead by four.
A big serve from Lovati.
Oh, that looked a little bit like it was straight out of the 80s.
Here's that look.
You see Patri take off to the outside.
Everyone wants a lift here.
A little bit throwy, maybe.
But you know what?
Yes, players play.
Nishida.
He's ripped one straight down.
Massive ace from him.
Nishida.
The ace for Japan.
He rips his ball so hard.
Look how high he jumps in the air and catches.
Lovati, the ace for Japan.
He rips his ball so hard.
Look how high he jumps in the air and catches.
Lovati, deep into the court.
Blink and you miss it.
He's going to go straight down the line again.
Yep.
Even more heat.
Do you know what?
The only way to see this ball,
or watch it as it goes,
barely clips it.
That would have been THE play of all time.
Just flirting with the net.
Oh, and that's come back off Nishida.
That's really unlucky.
For those of you that play on the weak hitters,
you'll know exactly...
Perfect pass.
And it's done at the first time of asking from Cleveland.
Japan take it.
Sorry, France take it.
And they lead Japan by two sets to nothing.
Little work to be done for Japan.
Tricky one.
Just moving off the net.
An excellent side-out, nonetheless.
This gets that inside-out approach.
He loves to hit down the line
when he's passing from the inside of the court
and makes that move.
And we talked about ball control.
Handling the ball well enough
to be able to run their fast attack.
And that's exactly what they're looking for right there.
They've got the capabilities.
They've got the skill levels.
They can do this.
They can compete.
It's going to be that consistency, isn't it?
It is. It absolutely is.
Tracking what's going on.
France is going to get their kills.
Oh, yes.
Fully commit chance.
See where he's going.
Look at him reach outside of his body.
Very casual at times.
Very nonchalant.
And passes that ball with his hands
in the court.
Goes in hard.
Sakita trying to do everything he can
but that one-on-one.
Oh, good up by Grebennikov.
But it's still Japan
who take the point.
Able to run the middle in transition.
Is that dig by Grebennikov
that you spoke of?
Nice touch. Good cover.
Oh, that was a cheeky play.
Like that.
Really nice job
running this offense.
Setting the middle blocker
behind his head.
We don't see that very often when they're facing
on the other side of the court
running the middle attack.
And France not ready.
Klivno puts it on the plate for Brizard
and says, I'll have it back, thank you.
Nice one.
Getting ready for his attack
right after he passes.
Really nice.
Madrid with the serve.
Has to go out wide.
Blockers were waiting
and pouncing
and finishing it all off.
France take the set 25-20
and win it the match by
three sets to nothing.
They're through to the semi-finals here
in Italy at the Men's Volleyball Nations League.
