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Date(s) - June 30, 2024 - July 1, 2024
12:00 am

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29 sec ago – Japan will face France in its first finals appearance in the men’s Volleyball Nations League. The air was charged with anticipation at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, where fans from all over the world had gathered to witness the final showdown of the Volleyball World Championship between Japan and France. The atmosphere was electric, with waves of national pride flowing through the stands as flags waved and chants echoed.

Japan, the home team, entered the court with a sense of purpose and determination. Led by their charismatic captain, Yuji Nishida, they were ready to prove their mettle on the biggest stage. France, on the other hand, came in with confidence and a solid track record, driven by their skilled and experienced captain, Benjamin Toniutti.

As the first set began, Japan’s energy was palpable. Nishida’s powerful serves and lightning-fast spikes kept the French team on their toes. The Japanese defense, led by libero Yūta Gotō, was a wall that seemed impenetrable. Despite France’s efforts, Japan took the first set 25-20, igniting the crowd’s fervor.

France, however, was far from deterred. In the second set, they showcased their tactical prowess and resilience. Earvin Ngapeth, the star outside hitter, unleashed a barrage of powerful spikes and strategic plays. Toniutti’s precise setting allowed the French attackers to exploit gaps in the Japanese defense. The set was a hard-fought battle, but France edged out Japan 25-22, leveling the match at one set each.

The third set was a display of pure athleticism and skill from both teams. Rallies extended into breathtaking exchanges, with neither team willing to concede. Japan’s Kento Miyaura and France’s Jean Patry engaged in a thrilling duel of spikes, each trying to outdo the other. The Japanese fans roared with every point scored by their team. In a nail-biting finish, Japan managed to clinch the set 26-24, taking a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, France knew they had to respond. They tightened their defense and executed their attacks with precision. Ngapeth and Patry continued to lead the charge, while the French blockers stood tall, thwarting the Japanese offense. The set was intense, with both teams giving their all. France managed to pull ahead and took the set 25-21, forcing a decisive fifth set.

The final set was a culmination of the entire tournament’s intensity and drama. The arena was a cauldron of noise, with fans from both nations cheering their hearts out. Japan started strong, fueled by the home crowd’s support. Nishida and Miyaura’s relentless attacks pushed Japan ahead. However, France, demonstrating remarkable composure and grit, fought back fiercely. Ngapeth’s experience and Toniutti’s leadership shone through in these critical moments.

The only team to beat Slovenia, who topped the standings in the VNL Preliminary Phase, ahead of the start of the VNL Finals, Japan did it again in the semifinals, prevailing 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 31-29) to earn the right to play in the VNL gold medal match for the first time.

Advancing to the VNL final for the first time is another of the recent accomplishments achieved by Japan, who took bronze in the VNL last year, returning to the podium in a major international tournament for the first time since 2009, and are currently in second place in the FIVB World Ranking, with 370.51 points.

Japan heavily relied on their stars to take Slovenia down on Saturday in Łódź as outside hitter and team captain Yuki Ishikawa led the team with 21 points (19 kills, two blocks), followed by opposite Yuji Nishida, who added another 18, with 15 kills, two aces and one block.

“Being in the final makes us so, so happy,” Nishida remarked. “It was a very tough game and it was played at such a high level, but I think each of our players had the right mentality today. Tomorrow we’ll play our last match and we need to be ready to do even more against France to win the title, which is our goal.”

Opposite Tonček Štern was a consistent weapon for the Slovenians, who will try to secure their first VNL medal on Sunday, producing a team-high 20 points (15 kills, three aces, two blocks). Outside hitter Klemen Čebulj, with 12 points, and middle blocker Alen Pajenk, with ten, also reached double digits in scoring.

“Japan is the only team we’ve lost this season, but it’s difficult,” middle blocker Jan Kozamernik reflected. “We wanted this win today, but we didn’t show up as we should have and they played very well and didn’t give us anything. Now it’s really important for us to end the VNL with a medal so we can start the preparations for the Olympics with good confidence. I think we deserve more than what we showed today and hopefully, that’s going to come in Paris.”