2023-07-30 00:36:46
A defeat to finish but Worlds which will remain historic for the French water polo team. Beaten this Saturday morning by Italy (16-9, 1-2/3-2/7-3/5-2) this Saturday during the match for fifth place, the Blues therefore finish sixth in these World Championships, in Fukuoka. But this result is the best in their history in a World Cup in which they had come close to the feat against Spain (7-6) Tuesday in the quarterfinals. Before this performance in Japan, the best result of the Tricolores had been a round of 16 in 1986.
“It’s a lot of satisfaction, pride and emotions. I am one of those who have been there for a long time, we have gone through very difficult times, we have sometimes fallen very low, and it has been confirmed for two years. We show that we are quite consistent against big teams and in big tournaments, ”says captain Ugo Crousillat, 31, who plays for CN Marseille.
“We must not ignite”
After a semi-final in the World League and a quarter at the European Championships in the summer of 2022, the French team has confirmed that they are now among the teams that count at the highest level in the world. She is automatically qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics and can dream of a final. “You have to keep working so as not to fall back down the stairs quickly, considers Ugo Crousillat. We haven’t been here long, we mustn’t get carried away, but we’ve built something solid. You have to stay calm, there are two competitions coming up before the Games, the European Championships and the World Championships. It will be sliders to see where we are over the season. »
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