In a surprising start to the Paris 2024 Olympic men’s volleyball tournament, Germany defeated Japan in a gripping five-set match. The Europeans emerged victorious with scores of 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 30-28, and 15-12 in Pool C at the South Paris Arena 1.
György Grozer led the charge for Germany, scoring 24 points, while Anton Brehme and Moritz Karlitzek added 15 and 11 points, respectively. The German team’s blocking prowess, scoring 18 points to Japan’s eight, played a crucial role in the win. Japan’s top scorers included Yuki Ishikawa with 22 points and Yuji Nishida with 20.
This victory marked the end of a decade-long winning streak for Japan against Germany. The Germans, ranked 11th, moved up one spot in the world rankings with the win. They will next face the United States, while Japan prepares to play Argentina. The day’s matches in Pool C will conclude with a clash between the USA and Argentina.
