In the early morning of July 1, Beijing time, in the final of the 2024 World Men's Volleyball League Finals, the Japanese team played against the French team, and in the end, the Japanese team lost the championship 1-3 and missed the miracle! But despite the defeat, history has already been made.
Japan is ranked No. 2 in the world and France is ranked No. 5 in the world, and in the semi-finals, Japan swept Slovenia 3-0, and France defeated World No. 1 Poland 3-2 in five games.
In the first game, the Japanese team had a slight upper hand at the beginning, and the French team also clenched the score 6-6. Yuki Ishikawa hit the dunk, and the French team counterattacked the hitter out of bounds 7-7. After 8-8, the Japanese team scored 2 points in a row, Yuki Ishikawa hit out of bounds, the Japanese team was 12-9, Nishida served out of bounds, and the French team chased it to 14-14. Yuki Ishikawa scored over the round, and the French team also hit 15-15 out of bounds. Nishida made a mistake, and the French team overtook 16-15. At the end of the game, the French team made a pass error, and the Japanese team led again 20-19, and the French team took a timeout. Yuki Ishikawa made a mistake, France took the lead 22-21, and Japan took a timeout. After the timeout, Japan made another mistake, France 23-21! France won the game point 24-22 and took the lead 25-23, leading Japan 1-0.
In the second game, Japan started 5-2 and then stopped France 7-3. After the timeout, France was stuck by 7 points, and Japan consolidated its advantage 12-7. Entering the middle game, the Japanese team was still leading by 5 points at 16-11. As soon as the French team sent a probe, the Japanese team stopped the French team again 18-12. France chased 15-19 and Japan took a timeout. Yuki Ishikawa passed the round, Nishida was determined to hit out of bounds, the key point, the French team touched the net, and the Japanese team successfully won the game point 24-18 and 25-18, with a big score of 1-1.
In the third game, the French team started 4-2, and the Japanese team chased 8-9. Trillo hit a dunk, and the French team then went on to attack and defend to lead by four points at 14-10 and stop the Japanese team. Entering the middle game, the French team led 19-13! However, at the end of the game, the Japanese team stubbornly chased 21-22, the key point, the Japanese team 23-23, but the French team still scored two points in a row 25-23 to win, the big score is 2-1.
In the fourth game, the Japanese team started 2-0, and the French team quickly chased 3-3, 6-5 to overtake. Japan regained the lead 9-8, and France scored two points in a row to maintain a certain advantage, and Japan chased it to 15-15. At the end of the game, the French team won the championship point 24-23, 25-23, and won the championship 3-1.