In a remarkable display of resilience, France successfully defended their title at the FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 World Championship. Held on Sunday at Yunnusobod Hall in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the French squad secured a comeback victory against Poland. Meanwhile, Spain clinched the bronze medal after a hard-fought five-set match against Iran.
The Road to Gold: France vs. Poland
Despite losing the initial set, France rallied impressively to overcome Poland with a 3-1 scoreline (22-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-12). This dominant comeback secured their second successive gold medal in the championship.
Andrej Jokanovic reflected on their initial performance, stating, “I wasn’t entirely engaged in the first set, and our team play was lacking.” He added, “For the second set, we reminded ourselves this was the final we’d dreamt of our entire lives, compelling us to elevate our game. We executed several strong plays and clinched crucial rallies, which built team momentum. This, in particular, boosted my confidence, enabling me to excel in those key rallies and sustain our push through the subsequent three sets.”
Jokanovic was a standout performer, contributing 24 points through 17 attacks, four blocks, and three aces. Captain Noa Duflos Rossi also had a stellar outing, accumulating 20 points from 15 kills, four blocks, and three aces. Their comprehensive performance eclipsed the commendable efforts of Poland’s Maksymilian Lyson (15 points) and Oskar Trawka (13 points).
The initial set remained closely contested until its closing moments. A service error from Duflos Rossi and a precise serve by Trawka allowed Poland to gain a decisive advantage, ultimately securing the set 25-22. Trawka was instrumental in this period, scoring seven points, including two aces.
France found their rhythm in the second set, establishing an 18-15 lead with more incisive attacks and robust net defense. Although Poland narrowed the gap to 22-21, Jokanovic and Duflos Rossi delivered crucial plays. Consecutive blocks by the French captain against Lyson sealed the set 25-22, dramatically altering the match`s momentum.
The third set saw France quickly build a 6-2 lead, which they maintained throughout. Jokanovic effectively penetrated the Polish block, while France’s defense nullified any attempts at a Polish comeback. A decisive 25-15 victory brought the reigning champions within one set of retaining their title.
The fourth set was entirely dominated by France. They surged to a 12-5 lead, showcasing impeccable attacking coupled with unyielding defense. Jokanovic and Duflos Rossi controlled the concluding rallies, with the captain executing a clever back-tip and then a powerful swing off the block to secure the final two points and clinch the title with a commanding 25-12 win.
France concluded the match with an impressive tally of 55 attacks, 17 blocks, and five aces. This gold medal marks their second in the Boys’ U19 category, complementing an earlier bronze.
French captain Duflos Rossi expressed his delight, stating, “We played exceptionally well, enabling us to overcome numerous formidable teams.” He emphasized the team effort: “I am incredibly happy, but this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates. Volleyball is a collective sport; we are united, and we win together. Naturally, the pressure of a World Championship final was immense. All the teams reaching this stage are strong, but we outperformed Poland, showed greater desire, and ultimately triumphed.”
Bronze Medal Showdown: Spain vs. Iran
In an earlier match, Spain concluded their championship run by securing the bronze medal with a hard-fought 3-2 victory (23-25, 25-23, 15-25, 25-21, 15-10) over Iran.
Cesar Irache delivered an outstanding performance, racking up 38 points from 35 kills and three blocks, propelling Spain to only their second podium finish in history. Iran narrowly won the first set, driven by Mohammad Amin Rahimi’s late offensive surge. However, Spain quickly retaliated in the second set, culminating a lengthy rally with an Irache finish to level the match.
Iran dominated the third set with more consistent offensive plays. Spain, however, mounted a strong comeback in the fourth, with Irache’s crucial hits shifting the momentum and establishing a 23-20 lead. A service error from Iran concluded the set, pushing the match to a decisive fifth. Spain maintained their intensity in the final set, taking an 8-4 lead at the changeover and preserving it through Irache`s powerful right-side attacks. Despite a late ace from Iran, it wasn`t enough, and a final service error sealed the match in Spain`s favor.
“Winning the bronze medal with this team and seeing Spain on the podium for the second time is an incredible feeling,” remarked Irache. “Securing third place is one of the greatest joys I’ve experienced. Throughout this match, I gave my utmost and supported the team in every way necessary. If we were struggling, I’d encourage my teammates to make good receptions, and I would then focus on scoring. My coach didn’t give me any special instructions; this success was purely a collective endeavor, and we truly functioned as one.”
Other Classification Matches
Elsewhere in the tournament, Italy claimed fifth place by overcoming Bulgaria 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-20), recovering after losing the first set. Andrea Giani and Federico Argano spearheaded a balanced team performance for Italy, while Bulgaria relied significantly on Zhasmin Velichkov, who amassed 25 points.
For seventh place, Finland ended their losing streak by defeating Korea 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21). Viktor Viljamaa and Kasper Vesanen collectively scored 33 points, and Finland’s blocking and serving remained resilient even during Korea’s strong third-set surge.
China secured ninth place, narrowly defeating Brazil 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 26-24). Yu Xiang and Hu Hanlin contributed a combined 30 points, with China’s excellent blocking and serving pressure proving crucial in clinching two closely contested sets.
Belgium’s powerful serving was key to their 11th-place finish, as they defeated Argentina 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 24-26, 25-19). Guilhem Hubert was a standout with 29 points, including six aces, while Argentina lacked broad offensive support beyond Samuel Guidi Correa’s 16 points.
Pakistan established their dominance early and maintained it throughout their 3-0 victory (25-18, 25-19, 25-18) against host nation Uzbekistan, securing 13th place. Muhammad Yahya led Pakistan with 14 points, while their defense effectively limited Shokboz Mamayusufov to only nine points.
In the concluding classification match, the United States narrowly defeated Japan in a demanding five-set thriller (20-25, 25-16, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12) to claim 15th place. Grant Lamoureux and Roman Payne collectively contributed 33 points and nine blocks, delivering a resilient performance in the decisive moments.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick