The star of the French volleyball team, victorious in the League of Nations on Sunday, does not intend to stop there.
“Today we proved that we are a great team, that we are reaching maturity,” said Earvin Ngapeth after France’s victory against the United States in the final of the League of Nations on Sunday evening in Bologna. Crowned Olympic champions in Tokyo last summer, the French won a third League of Nations after 2015 and 2017.
How do you react to this new title a year after the Olympic coronation?
Earvin Ngapeth: Super happy! It was a long VLN (Volleyball Nations League), we traveled a lot. We’ve been around the world, it’s been hard, it’s been long, we’re happy to come home with this haircut.
How do you explain the consistency of France at the top level for several seasons despite the “incident” of Euro 2021 (9th) after the Olympics?
I think we are a team that has reached maturity, we have taken a lot of knocks on the head (…) we missed out on a lot of competitions and that is what forged us. I think that today we know what we have to do to get on the podium. And here today we proved that we are a great team, that we are reaching maturity. And each time, now, the goal will be to confirm until Paris in 2024.
This final serves as ideal preparation for the World Championship from August 26 to September 11 in Poland and Ukraine. The world title is the only one France hasn’t won, is that your next goal?
I think it was the best way to prepare for the World Cup, we’re going to take a little rest and then we’ll resume preparation for three good weeks to have a good world championship.
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