FOR France head coach Andrea Giani, the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship is like a towering mountain with no trails — and the French must put in grueling work to carve their own rugged path to the peak.
“We have to build the road,” said Giani after Les Bleus’ straight-sets 25-12, 25-18, 25-16 victory over Korea last Sunday in Pool C, where they are also set to face No. 8 Argentina and No. 19 Finland. “Our road is very difficult. This road is not easy. We must focus on the present.”
Despite being reigning back-to-back Olympic champions, France has never scaled this particular summit, with a bronze in 2022 standing as their lone podium finish. And with a treacherous path ahead, the climb will be anything but easy.
If they advance further, France could face perennial contenders such as World No. 1 Poland, reigning champion Italy, No. 7 Japan, and a dangerous No. 17 Belgium, among others.
“Our way is not easy. The teams we will face next are stronger. On our path, we have Italy, the world champion; Poland, a former Olympic champion; Belgium, a strong team; and Japan, another strong team,” said the 55-year-old multi-titled coach.
Giani believes the trek cannot be rushed, with each match serving as a brick laid, each step a piece of the road built with patience and precision.
He emphasized that France cannot afford to look too far ahead, knowing that the only way to reach the summit is to focus on the present challenge and lay the path one stone at a time.
“Today, we started the World Championship against Korea, and we won 3-0. The next match is against Finland, which will not be easy. Then, the last match is against Argentina. We go match by match,” he said.
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