As the title says, the Japanese men's volleyball team lost to France. Ryujin Nippon's World Championships have come to an end. They were one win short of their goal of making it to the top eight.
Still, today's match was amazing. How many people in the world expected Japan to fight so evenly against France, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and the so-called champion who also won this year's Nations League?
The first set was a show of strength, just like the previous sets. In particular, the attacks of the two Japanese players, Ishikawa and Takahashi, and the side hitters, were completely blocked by the opponents' blocks, and they were unable to score as they wanted. Ishikawa, who had just recovered from an injury and had not been able to perform as well as he had hoped in the qualifying rounds, began to worry, "Maybe today will be no good either..."
On the other hand, France seemed to be playing freely, and France's ace OH Ngapet was in high spirits, showing off his favorite back attack (a feint with his back to the net) early on and scoring two service aces. Sinenieze, who is in the middle, also seemed to be able to score if he hit it.
And before we knew it, France had taken the first set 25-17. At this point, I was starting to give up and think, "Maybe we'll keep going like this and lose 3-0..."
But the players were different. Japan showed their true strength from the second set onwards.
First of all, Japan's serves were very powerful in this set. Although they didn't have any aces, they served aggressively against the ironclad France and succeeded in putting pressure on their opponents in side-out situations.
As the serve broke down the opponent, Japan's block touches also increased, and they succeeded in sending off the opposite player Patry, who had been very active in the Nations League. Also, I think that the digs of libero Yamamoto were also showing their true value because the block worked well.
On the other hand, Japan's serve reception was solid, and Takahashi in particular, despite receiving the most serves, continued to provide excellent passes to the setter and did not allow the opponent to break.
And even if the serve reception was disrupted and the game went into high set mode, this guy would score all the goals. This is Nishida Yuji, also known as Gorilla. Nishida was the King, King Kong, on this day. Nishida was in good form from the first set, but from the second set he stepped up a gear, scoring 7 out of 8 shots in this set alone, with no losses, and an amazing attack effectiveness rate of 87.501 TP3T. I've never seen numbers like that from a side player. Every shot counts. And against France. It was so amazing that it made me laugh.
Yamauchi's quick moves at key moments also proved effective.
Japan played an almost flawless game and took the second set 25-21, tying the set score at 1-1.
In the third set, they also shut out ace Nugapet from the first point and got off to a good start. However, Takahashi and Ishikawa were caught by the French block after that, and Nishida made a mistake, so they were temporarily down by five points.
However, Japan's game is not over yet. With Nishida at his best as usual, Japan gets side-outs and waits for an opportunity to counterattack. Onodera's serve breaks OH Klebno who came in midway through the match, and Japan breaks consecutively to catch up.
After that, they allowed an ace to the opposing relief server, Ruati, but Ishikawa returned the favor with an ace! But then the opposing setter, Brizard, stole the ace, putting France two points behind and giving them set point.
However, at 24-23, Ishikawa shut down OP Boyer, who had been in great form in this set and had replaced Patry, to bring the game to deuce! Boyer has a tendency to hit his spikes low, so I was waiting for him to shut him down, and here he came (laughs).
Just as we thought we were going to win the set, Ai was thrown off balance by Klebno's short serve, and in the end, Nishida overstepped the attack line, giving France the third set 26-24.
The fourth set was a do-or-die situation.
Japan's serve was strong from the start of this set as well. Targeting France's OH Cleveno, Sekita, Ishikawa, and Nishida each scored a service ace, giving Japan an advantage in the early stages of the set.
At one point, Nishida made a toss mistake (probably he wanted to give a quick kick to Yamauchi like Ishikawa, but Yamauchi didn't jump) and made a series of spike mistakes, which led to the reversal, but Ishikawa's spike broke the bad flow, and Ishikawa's aggressive serve broke the opponent and succeeded in breaking. Japan took the lead again.
Then, in the middle of the match, Takahashi Ai's sharp serve returns directly to the court! Ishikawa scores! Ai picks up Sinenieze's quick serve! Ishikawa scores! Ai's serve puts France on a high set! Nugapet misses! Takahashi picks up Nugapet's spike again! Ishikawa scores~~~~~!! And so they've scored five consecutive points in one go!!
This scene was thrilling. Takahashi's serve and receive were great, but it was also the moment when I felt that Ishikawa, who had been struggling with his spikes in this match, was finally able to show his true performance. I was excited.
After that, Japan continued to score with Ishikawa's spikes and other efforts, and was at set point at 24-18. From here, France was allowed consecutive breaks from Cleveno's good serves, but Japan won the fourth set 25-22.
At this point, I was already pretty full, my hands were sweating and my heart rate was high. It was amazing, Japan was so amazing. I really thought they would beat France and make history. Because the players really made me believe that.
Now, the fateful fifth set. The match is decided by 15 points, so the key is to get off to a good start.
It was Japan that got off to a successful start.
Moreover, the setter, Sekita, chose OH Takahashi, who had not scored a single point in the fourth set. First, Takahashi made a sharp spike and got a side-out. After that, at the break, Yamamoto made a good dig on Nugapet's cross, and Sekita gave it to Takahashi again. The ball was picked up once, but this time Yamamoto handed it to Takahashi under the net. Ai-chan scores!
After losing one point, Sekita scored again in the next side-out situation, and Takahashi scored again! Takahashi's serve after that broke the opponent's defense and created a chance ball. Then Nishida scored again! Japan took a 3-point lead, 4-1. It was so exciting. It was like that, they were going to beat France.
But France was France after all. Soon Ishikawa was blocked, and then his spike was caught by the opponent's block and cut back by France, allowing them to score, and before they knew it, the score was tied at 5-5. Then, during the S1 rotation, Ishikawa's right spike was caught by the opponent's block again, and France finally took the lead at 6-7. Do your best, Ishikawa!
From there, Japan used Nishida and France used the three players on the side to get side outs. However, Takahashi, who had been in good form in this set, was blocked by the opponent's block from Brizard's serve, and the score was 11-9, and they were finally two points behind...
This is bad. If we don't catch up to within one point by the 13th point, we'll lose... I've got to get a break before then!!! Absolutely!!! Absolutely!!!
With the score at 13-11, relief server Ruati's serve goes out, making the score 13-12. Sekita serves. Nugapet receives. Klebno spikes.
Nishida blockgggggggg!!!
13-13!! We can still do it!!!
At this point, France got the first set point at 14-13, and Japan got a side out in the S1 rotation where they had previously conceded a break. Ahh, it was nerve-wracking... But Ishikawa scored with one point!! As expected of our captain!!!
Then Ishikawa serves. First he avoids Boyer's spike. Ah, Gape's pipe comes...
The net!!! Match point for Japan!!! 15-14!!!
Oh no, is a crazy moment coming? Is a historic moment coming?
(；ﾟдﾟ) Gulp...
Ishikawa's serve.
It goes into the net. 15-15. No, switch. Next side out.
Good serve receive, Yamauchi's quick ball is picked up..., Lugov pushes!
15-16. Match point for France. Time out for Japan.
That's right, as Bran said, it's time for side outs. Go Ryujin Nippon. For victory!!!
Klebno serves, nice pass from Ishikawa! Sekita selects Nishida, gorilla please! Gorilla who scores!!
16-16.
Yamauchi serves. Nugapet picks up. Then Rugov's quick kick!!! Rugov hadn't even hit 10 spikes up to this point, but he uses it here. Setter Brizard is calm.
16-17.
Now for the side out.
Jufoy, who replaced Rugoff, serves. Ishikawa picks it up, nice pass. Sekita, Nishida! Go Nishida!!
Ah, it was picked up...
…….
Nugapet's super cross was perfect, no challenge there.
France took the fifth set 18-16 to win the match 3-2.
Japan lost. The Ryujin Nippon World Championships have now come to an end. No matter how close it was, a loss is a loss. The world of competition is tough.
However, to be honest, I didn't expect them to play such a great game. In particular, Ishikawa was not in good condition throughout the game, but I'm really proud of him for playing such a good game against France, the gold medalist of the Tokyo Olympics and the world number two.
I've been supporting the Japanese national team for almost 20 years now, but I never thought that this day would come so soon, or that I would see Japan play such a great game. I'm really glad that I've continued to support them. I'm really happy and proud. Thank you to all the players and staff for your hard work.
The Japanese team is improving at a rate that exceeds our expectations. They will use this disappointment as a springboard, take this result as a positive, and show us even more improvement. There is only hope for the future. A medal is really not a dream. It's time for revenge at the Paris Olympics!!!
But first, I want you to rest your body properly and avoid injury, because that's the thing I'm most afraid of.
I also hope that the French team will win the World Championships and say that the match against Japan was the de facto final, lol.
All in all it was a fantastic match. Thank you Ryujin Nippon!!!
Photo: FIVB
English 
Japanese