France in World League without Stephane Antiga
- Written by Jiri Popelka
France, European Volleyball Championship silver medalist, has omitted a
big name in Stéphane Antiga. They will also travel to the World League
with just one opposite in Antonin Rouzier.
In 2008, France missed the main goal of the past few years; qualification for the Olympic Games. After this terrible disappointment, Philippe Blain's squad did not do as well as hoped in the 2008 World League. Third in its group behind Brazil and Serbia, France finished in 10th place. Last year the French had the opportunity to reach the Final Six in the World League. Serbia, host country for the final, qualified but France failed to take the second ticket in the last game in Argentina.
During the European championship in Turkey the French squad wanted to make the final round. Two new setters completed the team and Yannick Bazin started to lead the games with success. In the final, Poland beat France (3-1) to conquer the European title. Antonin Rouzier (best scorer), Hubert Henno and Stéphane Antiga were elected to the all star team. France, six years after, clinched the silver medal in the European Championships.
This year France will play World League in pool B together with Serbia, Italy and China. They will begin this tournament with match against Italy on 4th June 2010.
| Setters: | Opposites: |
| Yannick Bazin | Antonin Rouzier |
| Pierre Pujol | |
| Toafa Takaniko | |
| Benjamin Toniutti | |
| Spikers: | Middle blockers: |
| Loic Geiler | Gary Gender |
| Baptiste Geiler | Gérald Hardy-Dessources |
| Nicolas Marechal | Oliver Kieffer |
| Guilliame Samica | Jean-Philippe Sol |
| Samuele Tuia | Jean-Stéphane Tolar |
| Erwin Ngapeth | Romain Vadeleux |
| Emmanuel Ragondet | |
| Liberos: | |
| Jean-Francois Exiga | |
| Jenia Grebennikov | |
| Hubert Henno | |
| Edouard Rowlandson |
from FIVB