Quarter-final against France
“Sadness, emptiness”: Volleyball players lose Olympic thriller
Grozer had led Germany to the Olympics. Photo
© Marcus Brandt/dpa
The German volleyball players put on a great performance against France in front of a great crowd. But in the end, Georg Grozer’s team is left with nothing but pain – and a little pride.
The German volleyball players had just lost a 2-0 set lead against hosts France in the quarterfinals and had to bury their hopes of a medal at the Olympics. The team lost to the Tokyo Olympic champions in front of an impressive crowd in the arena in the south of Paris and after a great fight including a final tie-breaker, 2:3 (25:18, 28:26, 20:25, 21:25, 13:15).
Medal was the goal
Grozer first congratulated France’s outside attacker Earvin N’Gapeth and then heard the French singing the “Marseillaise”. Shortly afterwards, the diagonal attacker allowed his wife and daughter to console him. “It really hurts my heart that we didn’t take this next step in volleyball history,” he said.
The selection of the German Volleyball Association (DVV) wanted to be the first team from the Federal Republic to win an Olympic medal and was already well on its way to the semi-finals. The GDR selection had won silver in the men’s competition in 1972.
Despite the elimination, coach Michal Winiarski’s team, which was back in the games for the first time since 2012, played a strong tournament overall. Against Japan and the USA, the team showed that it can keep up with the absolute world elite.
“I am incredibly proud of this team, what we have achieved in recent years and also here at the Olympic Games,” said leader Grozer. He definitely wants to continue his career. It remains to be seen whether he will continue to do so in the national team. The 39-year-old has repeatedly taken breaks in recent years – and then came back.
German team caused a stir in Paris
The DVV team went into the match against the team of former national coach Andrea Giani as slight underdogs. The French are not only Olympic champions, but also won the Nations League (VNL) a few weeks ago.
There was little sign of Germany being an underdog in the first two sets. The many French fans who kept shaking the stands in the hall and singing “Allez les Bleus” fell silent after numerous German points. With a strong serve and good defense, Germany took control.
Grozer’s serve brings the second set
In the second round, the Olympic champion and the audience woke up. But the Germans didn’t let themselves be unsettled and came back point by point. Two important points from middle blocker Tobias Krick and a powerful serve from Grozer made it 2-0. But then the game slowly turned.
Suddenly the French were succeeding at almost everything. And the Germans made too many mistakes. “Unfortunately, we were a little unlucky at the end,” said Krick. There were also some controversial referee decisions.
The fact that the French fans booed many German serves did not bother the DVV players. “It actually motivates you even more. They can shout whatever they want. We try to play our game,” said Krick.
Captain Lukas Kampa and Grozer were the only remaining players who had already taken part in London 2012. Back then, too, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. They will not play together again. “I think we will both look each other in the eye again soon and say a few things to each other, because it was a very, very nice journey together,” Kampa concluded.