In one of the biggest shocks of the Volleyball World Championship in the Philippines, Olympic champions France have been knocked out in the group stage following a dramatic 2-3 loss to Argentina.
France, who entered the tournament as medal favorites, were stunned by a relentless Argentine side that never gave up despite the rollercoaster scoreline. After dropping the first two sets (26-28, 23-25), the French roared back to level the match, taking the next two sets (25-21, 25-20). But in the decisive tie-break, Argentina held their nerve to seal a famous 15-12 victory and punch their ticket to the Round of 16.
The defeat leaves France, led by star names like Earvin Ngapeth, out of contention far earlier than anyone expected. The result is being hailed as one of the tournament’s greatest upsets.
Top Scorers:
- Argentina: Luciano Vicentin (22 pts), Luciano Palonsky (17 pts), Agustin Loser (12 pts), Pablo Koukartsev (10 pts)
- France: Trevor Clevenot (16 pts), Théo Faure (13 pts, coming off the bench)
Adding to France’s woes, middle blocker Barthélémy Chinenyeze suffered a knee injury during the fourth set and had to leave the court with the help of teammates.
The defending Olympic champions now head home empty-handed, while Argentina march on with momentum and belief after this statement win.
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