France VNL 2025: Defending Champions Fall Short in Ningbo

The Eiffel Tower stood tall. Their title defence didn’t.

A Dynasty Tested — France’s VNL 2025 Campaign: Results, Records and the Quarterfinal Shock

France entered the 2025 Volleyball Nations League as one of the world’s leading men’s national teams. Two-time VNL champions (2022, 2024), two-time Olympic champions (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), and ranked third in the world, les Bleus were, by every measure, among the tournament favourites to contend for another title.

What followed, however, was a season full of contradictions: consistent enough during the Preliminary Phase to secure third place and qualify comfortably for the Finals, yet unexpectedly undone in the quarterfinals by their own unforced errors and a Slovenia side that refused to blink.

This guide covers the full story — how France’s Preliminary Phase unfolded, the tactical execution that disappeared in Ningbo, and what this quarterfinal exit means for one of international volleyball’s most successful programs.

Quick Facts

France’s VNL Legacy — A Dynasty Built Since 2022

Before 2025, France had established one of the strongest records in modern Volleyball Nations League history.

Their breakthrough came in 2022, when they captured their first VNL title in Bologna after defeating the United States in a memorable five-set final. Earvin Ngapeth once again demonstrated why he had become one of the defining players of his generation, helping France lift its first Volleyball Nations League trophy.

Two years later, France returned to the summit by defeating Japan in the 2024 final in Łódź. Just weeks afterwards, the same core of players won Olympic gold on home soil in Paris, cementing France’s status as one of the dominant teams of the current era.

The 2025 VNL campaign was expected to continue that success. Instead, it became a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift at the highest level of international volleyball.

How France’s 2025 Preliminary Phase Unfolded

The Preliminary Phase unfolded over three competitive weeks, testing France against a mix of experienced contenders and emerging teams.

Week 1 — June 11–15

France opened the competition with a rocky start. They suffered tough 1–3 defeats against Argentina and Germany, flashing some early-season vulnerability. However, Andrea Giani’s squad responded well  by bouncing back with an important 3–1 win over rivals Italy and edging out Canada in a tight five-set battle (3–2) to finish the opening week with a balanced 2–2 record.

Week 2 — June 25–29

The second week in Burgas was France’s most dominant stretch of the Preliminary Phase. Les Bleus put on a clinic, securing clinical 3–0 sweeps against debutants Ukraine, Turkey, and a Slovenia. Their only stumble of the week came in a spectacular five-set thriller against Japan, where France narrowly lost the tie-break 11–15, closing the week with a strong 3–1 run.

Week 3 — July 16–20

The final week saw France solidify their secured qualification for the Finals. They captured crucial victories by defeating China (3–1), battling past Cuba in another five-set thriller (3–2), and sweeping Iran (3–0). Although they closed the group stage with a narrow 2–3 loss to Poland after a grueling 30–32 opening set, their spot in the Finals was never in jeopardy.

Final Preliminary Phase record: 8 wins – 4 losses, 24 points, 3rd place.

Match Results — VNL 2025 Preliminary Phase

The Ningbo Finals — And the Quarterfinal Shock

France arrived in Ningbo as the third seed after an impressive Preliminary Phase. Their quarterfinal opponent on July 31 was Slovenia, a team they had already defeated convincingly 3–0 just a month earlier.

The rematch produced a completely different outcome.

Quarterfinal: France vs Slovenia

Result: France 1–3 Slovenia (22–25, 25–15, 19–25, 18–25)

The opening set remained evenly balanced until Slovenia produced a decisive run to take control and win 25–22. France responded superbly in the second set, orchestrating the attack with precision to level the match through a commanding 25–15 victory.

From the third set onward, however, France gradually unravelled. The number of unforced errors increased significantly, allowing Slovenia to build momentum and dictate the match. France also struggled to contain Slovenia at the net, losing the blocking battle by a considerable margin. The defending champions never recovered. Slovenia deserved its 3–1 victory and advanced to the semifinals, while France’s title defence came to an unexpected end.

Key Players of France’s VNL 2025 Campaign

• Théo Faure (Opposite): Faure became France’s primary offensive weapon throughout the Preliminary Phase. His 225 points, including 194 attack points and 21 aces, made him one of the tournament’s most productive scorers and the team’s leading attacker.
• Antoine Brizard (Setter): The 2024 VNL MVP once again controlled France’s offensive rhythm with intelligence and consistency. His distribution remained one of the team’s greatest strengths throughout the Preliminary Phase.
• Earvin Ngapeth (Outside Hitter): Although associated with France’s 2025 VNL campaign, Ngapeth was unavailable for the Finals. His absence deprived France of one of its most experienced leaders during the knockout stage.
• Trévor Clévenot (Outside Hitter): Clévenot once again provided stability in reception, defence and transition play, remaining one of the most reliable members of the French starting lineup.

Memorable Moment — The Quarterfinal Meltdown

France 1–3 Slovenia — Ningbo

France’s quarterfinal exit will be remembered for one aspect above all others: an unusually high number of unforced errors during the final two sets. Rather than being comprehensively outplayed, France repeatedly handed Slovenia opportunities through mistakes at crucial moments. Combined with Slovenia’s effective blocking and disciplined defence, those errors proved decisive in one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 Finals.

What’s Next for France?

The quarterfinal elimination in Ningbo was disappointing, but it does not change France’s position among the world’s elite volleyball nations.

With two Olympic titles, two Volleyball Nations League championships and one of the deepest player pools in international volleyball, France remains one of the strongest contenders for every major tournament.

Looking ahead to VNL 2026, the French squad will seek to return to the podium and demonstrate that the 2025 campaign was only a temporary setback rather than the beginning of a decline.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did France finish in VNL 2025?

France finished third in the Preliminary Phase with an 8–4 record before losing to Slovenia 1–3 in the quarterfinals, finishing fifth overall.

Why didn’t Earvin Ngapeth play in the Finals?

Ngapeth did not travel to Ningbo for the Finals, leaving France without one of its most experienced outside hitters during the knockout stage.

What decided the quarterfinal against Slovenia?

France struggled with unforced errors throughout the second half of the match, while Slovenia defended efficiently and dominated at the net. Those factors proved decisive in the 3–1 victory.

Quick Summary

• Title Defence Ends Early: France’s bid to retain the VNL trophy ended with a quarterfinal defeat to Slovenia (1–3).
• Strong Preliminary Phase: France qualified comfortably after finishing third with an 8–4 record and 24 points.
• Key Absence: Earvin Ngapeth did not feature in the Finals in Ningbo.
• Quarterfinal Collapse: An unusually high number of unforced errors and Slovenia’s superior blocking ended France’s campaign.
• Looking Ahead: With two VNL titles and four medals across seven editions, France remains one of the world’s leading volleyball nations heading into 2026