PHOTOS: ANTONIN THUILLIER, JUNG YEON-JE/AFP, VOLLEYBALL WORLD
MANILA, Philippines — After a successful title-retention in the Olympic Games, France eyes redemption in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship from September 12 to 28 at Mall of Asia Arena and Araneta Coliseum.
Back-to-back Olympic gold medalist France leads Pool C against Argentina, Finland, and South Korea at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
France: Back for more glory
Gold medalists France’s players sing the national anthem during the award ceremony after the men’s volleyball gold medal match between France and Poland at the South Paris Arena 1 in Paris on August 10, 2024 during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP)
France opens its campaign against South Korea on September 14, while Argentina and Finland raise the curtain of their group on the same day.
The French successfully defended their throne and home court in the Paris Olympics last year with Earvin Ngapeth earning the MVP award.
In Manila, the World No.4 France has something to prove, seeking to rise from a quarterfinal exit in the 2022 Worlds and a fifth place finish in the recent Volleyball Nations League.
France parades a stacked roster with Jean Patry, Antoine Brizard, Stephen Boyer, and Bathelemy Chinenyeze for coach Andrea Giani.
Argentina: Seeking podium
Argentina’s Luciano Vicentin, Luciano De Cecco, Agustin Loser and Bruno Lima react during the men’s preliminary round volleyball match between Argentina and Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the South Paris Arena 1 in Paris on August 2, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)
Marching to its 13th consecutive World Championship appearance, Argentina is raring to get over the quarterfinal hump this time.
After competing in the Paris Olympics last year, Argentina, the former South American Champion, ended up with a 14th-place finish in the recent VNL.
But the World No.9 nation remains a threat in Manila’s solo hosting of the 32-nation tournament with setter Luciano De Cecco, Argentina’s flag bearer in Paris Olympics and spikers Luciano Palonsky and Pablo Kukartsev.
Finland: Back on stage
Members of Finland celebrate after a point during the match between Finland and Egypt on the final day of the Volleyball World Cup 2023 men’s Olympic qualifying tournament at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo on October 8, 2023. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
After failing to qualify for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in 2022, Finland hopes to unleash its revamped program in its return to the biggest stage after seven years.
Rising to the World No.18, Finland secured its first-ever European League title last June after beating Czechia in the final.
The Finnish are boasting European League MVP Joonas Jokela, Niklas Breilin, Severi Savonsalmi, and Akseli Lankinen.
South Korea: Building momentum
South Korea’s Heo Su-bong. –AVC PHOTO
South Korea makes its 10th world championship appearance after competing in several tournaments, including a third-place finish in last year’s AVC Nations Cup.
The Koreans placed fourth in this year’s edition, but they remained as the top 25 nation in the world.
Korea fields Heo Su-bong and Lee Woo-jin, who are bringing international experience from playing in the Italian league.
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