France in the Euro volleyball final after its victory against Finland

Eleven years after their last final at a Euro, which also happens to be their only continental title, the Blues will challenge Poland, big favorite, on Saturday (9 p.m.). Andrea Giani's men were remarkably solid during the semi-final which pitted them against the surprising Finnish team this Friday in Milan. Two days after their exploit against reigning world champion Italy, Olli Kunnari's team was unable to do anything in the face of the passion and mastery of Trévor Clévenot and his young teammates, winners in four sets (25-17, 18-25, 25-18, 25-15).

If the Nordic team won the first two points of this semi-final, the Blues were quick to react (2-2) and an intense standoff began between the two teams, who went attack for attack, and counter for counter. Until 11-11, a (very) well-chosen moment by Mathis Henno and others to win three points in a row and create a first gap (14-11). Which continued to grow despite the Finnish timeout, thanks in particular to a successful ace from Théo Faure or an attack from Joonas Jokela directly into... the knees of Andrea Giani, the French coach (17-12).

On the ropes, the Finns took the lead at the end of the first round, concluded masterfully with a final supersonic attack from Henno, his team's co-top scorer with 6 points alongside Faure (25-17). Very good work, after a balanced start to the match, which now had to be continued to keep the Nordic volleyball players' heads underwater. Which seemed to be off to a good start with the gain of the first two points of the next round. But Finland did not sink and returned to the scoreboard (7-7). Before inflicting on the Blues what she herself had suffered previously, namely a sudden acceleration which stunned Antoine Brizard and his partners, trailing 12-16 before ceding the set clearly (18-25).

Everything then had to be done again for the reigning double Olympic champions. A mission tailor-made for them, who immediately broke away 13-6, to remove any notion of doubt. Behind, Finland tried to react but France somehow retained its lead (19-14). And as a symbol, the Faure-Henno tandem was responsible for closing the lid to give the Blues a set lead (25-18). This time, the Nordics were not going to make yet another comeback in this Euro. When the score went from 6-6 to 10-7 in favor of the French, the final was fast approaching. And nothing was going to stand in the way of the Blues, winners without trembling in this fourth act (25-15).