The France team begins the defense of its Volleyball Nations League (League of Nations) title against Poland this Wednesday, June 7 in Nagoya, Japan. For this first stage of the 2023 edition, the Blues have a largely overhauled workforce compared to that crowned last summer in Bologna. Andrew Giani has chosen to leave certain executives at rest for the start of the competition and will launch young people into the deep end.
“The objective will be to qualify for the Final 8 in Poland, but for me there is another equally important objective: to give a chance to the young players who have joined us. They will discover the international context which is different, the goal is to allow them to raise their level of play in contact with this competition”, explained the coach of the Olympic champions in title to the announcement of the selection on the site of the FFVolley.
Among the 14 French players present in Japan, five do not yet have international experience, but could be the next stars of the Blues with the approach of the I of Paris 2024.
Olympics.com present them to you.
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Hilir Henno
- Age: 19
- Club: UC Irvine, USA
- Position: Receiver-forward
After Hubert Henno, it is Hilir Henno who could make the good days of the French volleyball team. The libero was a legend in the discipline and was notably a European and world medalist. From now on, his son can hope to win such honors with the Blues.
Hilir was European U17 champion in 2019 and European U22 runner-up in 2022 ahead of his big A debut scheduled for this summer.
Within the group present in Nagoya, he is already a player apart. The receiver-attacker is the youngest of the selection, but also its only representative across the Atlantic. He plays in the American university championship with UC Irvine.
His performances have impressed on a team that reached the Big West Conference Finals this season. His 87 aces, the second most in an NCAA season, and his 4.56 points per game, ninth in the national rankings, earned him a selection to the all-season team at the Big West Conference level. but also the national championship.
In California, he walks in the footsteps of Kevin Tilliethe gold medalist of Tokyo 2020 also passed through Anteaters.
Thibault Loubeyre
- Age: 22 years old
- Club: Tourcoing
- Position: Libero
Thibault Loubeyre was called up to the France team to replace another neo-international who finally forfeited: Luke Ramon. This selection rewards his first season as the number 1 libero in the elite of French volleyball.
The 22-year-old comes out of a successful exercise on the side of Tourcoing where he discovered the role of holder. His technical qualities allowed him to take over from Julien Lemay and lead the northern club to the semi-finals of the French Championship.
A milestone has been reached with such experience because the Libero was still playing in the second division for France Avenir 2024 less than two years ago. From now on, he represents the present of the Blues.
With the VNL, Thibault Loubeyre could experience a second successful summer in a row on the international scene. Last year, he particularly distinguished himself during the European Under-22 Championship where he finished the competition with a silver medal and the title of best libero of the tournament.
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Kellian Motta Paes
- Age: 21 years old
- Club : Paris
- Position: Passman
Kellian Motta Paes is only 21 years old but he has already established himself among the best passers in Ligue A. The player from Paris finished the regular season of the French Championship in the top 15 of the most effective players in his position with 43, 16% success rate.
The 1.90 m player was an attacker-receiver until he was 17 and his conversion to the role of passer. This change of position allows him to walk a little more in the footsteps of his father, Mauricio Motta Paes.
The 60-year-old was a junior international with Brazil and is now a successful coach in France. Before being the coach of Tourcoing, he won eight French championship titles with Paris and Tours.
“Having a dad who has won so many things, I think it would be a shame to take him from a negative side. It pushes me every day and I tell myself that I want to do the same, if not more”, said the finalist of the last Euro U22 in a report by beIN SPORTS which was dedicated to him.
Antoine Pothron
- Age: 21 years old
- Club : Toulouse
- Position: Receiver-forward
Antoine Pothron was a finalist for the title of best receiver-attacker in the French Championship even before turning professional. The 21-year-old was linked with Toulouse on an aspiring contract until his move to Tours in early June 2023.
At only 21, he is coming out of a season that has allowed him to assert himself as one of the best French people in his position. The one who was also nominated for the trophy for best young player in the French Championship was Spacer’s number 1 offensive asset in Ligue A and could represent the future of Les Bleus as he discovered the elite of French volleyball there. just 18 months old.
A year after participating in the Silver Blues campaign at the Euro under 22, the experience of a summer in Blue could accelerate its progress. Whatever happens in the League of Nations, its trajectory is bound to take a turn in the months to come. Now under contract with the 2023 French champion, Antoine Pothron will discover the continental deadlines with the most successful club in the country.
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Simon Roehrig
- Age: 22 years old
- Club: Tourcoing
- Poste : Central
Simon Roehrig is only 22 years old, but he already has three professional seasons under his belt. In the spring of 2020, when the world was at a standstill due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the volleyball player saw his career take a leap forward: he signed his first professional contract.
Originally from Alsace, the central decided to head for Tourcoing after having attended the Pôle France in Montpellier. A paying choice because three years later, the club from the North of France extended his contract until 2024.
The 2.00m player won in League A and can now hope to make his height speak with the jersey of the reigning Olympic champions.
Like Kellian Motta Paes or Antoine Pothron, he was part of the France A’ team, fourth in Mediterranean Games 2022.
“Being able to experience this kind of thing is indescribable,” he confided on his club’s website. “I waited for it when I was young and I expect it every time. As soon as I wear the shirt, it makes me want to wear it again and again. I can only think of one thing, which is to sing the Marseillaise with pride before each match! »
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