France defeats Italy 3-2 in a Pool C match of CEV Volleyball European Championship
A Pool C match of the 2011 CEV Volleyball European Championship
took place on September 12 between Italy and France in Innsbruck, Austria, at the Olympiahalle Innsbruck. The contest between the two teams went on for five sets, at the end of which France was able to clinch a win. The match was won by the French at the following
final set scores: 26-28, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21 and 15-11.
No one was sure where the tables would turn in the first set of the match as both the teams played relentlessly until the last minute. After a commendable first set win, Italy moved on to secure another win and it seemed like France was in for a sweep when
the French retaliated and won the third set by a significant margin. The Italians regrouped in the fourth set and the game remained tight for the most part, however, France was able to swing it in their favour near the end. Likewise, the final set of the match
saw the French stay more in control and get the match win.
The French head coach, Philippe Blain, made the following comments at the press conference after his team had won the match: “In the end, for us this was the most important thing. I know that we had the chance to win Pool C and that makes me a little disappointed.
Now we have to prepare well for the next match against Turkey.”
The head coach of Italy, Mauro Berruto, expressed himself in this manner: “Our first target was to claim Pool C. But we still need to improve. Especially in the first phase of almost every set, we had evident problems.”
The first set brought the lead to the French early on at 12-7 but the Italians did not give up the chase and were eventually able to catch up. The Italians took the lead at 19-18 but the French tied the score. However, the Italians did not let go and sped
on to win the opening set at 28-26.
The French were leading the second set early on at 13-9 but the Italians had the lead by the time the second technical time out was reached at 16-15. Despite valiant efforts by the French, the Italians remained successful in securing the second set at 25-22.
The French had the lead at 14-11 in the third set and they stuck to it till the very end, avoiding a sweep by winning the frame at 25-17. The fourth set went tough but the French proved to be unstoppable as they rushed towards another win at 25-21. Winning
two sets in such a manner got the French all worked up and it was only a matter of time before France had won the fifth set at 15-11.
The impressive comeback victory that France was able to achieve has brought it to the second slot in its Pool.
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