Where is peak of France’s project, started in 2017?

France broke monotony in the men’s water polo. For the first time in the last 15 years, a team that is outside the “Big European Seven” (Spain, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Montenegro) has qualified for the semifinals of the World Championships.

In 2009, Team USA finished 4th in the tournament in Rome, and between 2011 and 2024, only the mentioned seven powerhouses played in the semis. West Germany won a bronze in the 1980s. Cuba and Australia have reached the top 4 in the World Championships. But, none of these results wasn’t a surprise since all these countries belonged to the circle of the teams that could go high.

The French haven’t been an underdog for a few years. Still, their yesterday’s win in the quarterfinals against Hungary, one of the big favorites for the title, which arrived in Doha with almost the same team that triumphed in Fukuoka, is a big surprise.

Although France has been steadily improving over the years, it’s fair to say that they haven’t been considered strong contenders for medals until now. Have they become favorites at major competitions?

France Photo: European Aquatics / Tom Dubravec / CROPIX

There are no big successes that come by chance. France has prepared for significant results for a long.

Before the World War 2, France was the Olympic champion, it won silver at the European Championships. However, French water polo hasn’t achieved successes in the past eight decades.

Far from the top for decades; a new beginning in 2017

The tournament in Doha is the 21st edition of the World Championships. the French have played only six times. They debuted in 1982, finishing in 13th place. France was 8th in 1986 and 12th in 1991. They were absent from the World Championships for 26 years and returned to the stage in 2017 (14th place in Budapest with one win -they beat only Canada). France missed the 2019 and 2022 editions of the Worlds. Last year, they won 6th place in Fukuoka.

As for the European Championships, France participated in almost all editions until 1970. But, they qualified for the Europeans only nine times in the past 54 years, finishing in the top 8 only once (6th place in 2022).

How did the revival of the French water polo started?

France started making a new strategy seven years ago when Paris was awarded the 2024 Olympic Games. The national authorities wanted to make respectable teams in all sports for the Games.

Many experienced foreign water polo players and coaches have reinforced the clubs in the last seven years (most of them have come from ex-Yu countries). Young French players started learning from decorated aces and maturing.

Marseille – traction engine of French water polo

The first result of the strategy came in 2018, when Marseille clinched the LEN Euro Cup, becoming the first French club to win an international trophy.

However, it took a little more time for the national team to start achieving success and defeating European powerhouses. France has been a regular participant in the European Championships since 2014, but until 2022, it was sent out of the race for the medals in the early stages of the competitions.

Ugo Crousillat (France) Photo by Istvan Derencsenyi/European Aquatics

Two years ago, the French recorded their first big wins against favorites at big tournaments.

They beat the USA after a penalty shootout in the 2022 World League Super Final group stage in Strasbourg and defeated Montenegro in the quarterfinals. They finished 4th after a narrow loss to the USA in the semifinals and a defeat to Spain in the bronze-medal match. For the first time after World War 2, France advanced to the Top 4 at a big competition.

France played very well at the World League Super Final. “Strasbourg is just the beginning of our road“, one of the most experienced French players, Mehdi Marzouki, told Total Waterpolo before the European Championships in Split, held just a few months after the World League.

The French proved they were on the right track in Split. They took a point in the group match against Greece and then beat Serbia in the crossover round to reach the quarterfinals. They finished 6th.

Montenegro and Serbia were at a new beginning in 2022 after a big rejuvenation of their teams, but the results in Strasbourg and Split were significant successes for the French.

Thomas Vernoux  Photo: European Aquatics / Tom Dubravec / CROPIX

Last year, they didn’t beat a water polo powerhouse. France disappointed water polo fans in the World Cup qualifications (five losses in as many games in the group in Zagreb), but it shined at the World Championships in Fukuoka. Thanks to victories over Australia and the USA (after a penalty shootout, France achieved a historic success and finished 6th. Remember, Spain had to dig deep to beat France in the quarterfinals (France led 4:1 and 6:4, but Spain produced a late comeback for a 7:6 win).

Combination of experience and young forces

In the past few years, the team gained the necessary experience. One of the best young players in the world, Thomas Vernoux, became one of the best center-forwards in the world. But he can play in other positions and pose a big danger to the opponent’s defense. After all, he proved that yesterday with a series of long-distance goals against Hungary.

Kobescak and Bruzzo Photo: European Aquatics / Tom Dubravec / CROPIX

This year, the team, coached by Florian Bruzzo and his assistant Vjekoslav Kobescak, became stronger as Michael Bodegas, who won several medals with Italy, returned to the French national team. Bodegas (36-year-old), captain Ugo Crousillat (33), Mehdi Marzouki (36 – he didn’t arrive at the Doha tournament), Remi Saudadier (37), and naturalized players – Danish center Emil Bjorch (36) and Croat Duje Zivkovic (33) are the most experienced and among the best players in the team. Some of them will probably retire from the national team soon. But, France has new forces. Vernoux (21) and Bouet (23) are the leaders of a new generation of French players. The team has an excellent goalkeeper, Hugo Fontani (29). Many other players can cause headaches for the rivals, too.

I Two players of the French national team have won medals at the World Championships playing for other nations. In 2019, Michael Bodegas was the world champion with Italy, the team he played between 2015 and 2021. Ugo Crousillat was a member of the Montenegrin team in 2013 and 2014 and clinched silver in Barcelona in 2013. Bodegas has Olympic bronze from Rio de Janeiro. Duje  Zivkovic won bronze with Croatia at the 2014 World Cup.

Michael Bodegas Photo by  Istvan Derencsenyi/European Aquatics

In recent years, France has emerged as a strong opponent and has consistently improved their performance.

During the European Championships in January, France had ups and downs. It fell short of defeating some of the top-ranked teams. They were relegated to Division 1 after a defeat to Serbia, and finished in 9th place with two wins against Georgia and the Netherlands, and four losses to Croatia, Montenegro (after a penalty shootout), Spain, and Serbia. These results in Croatia may have contributed to some underestimating their abilities in Doha.

As for the Doha tournament, they secured wins against Brazil and China, with a narrow loss to Greece. In the crossover round, France emerged victorious with a clear 11:8 win over Australia.

Yesterday they did what they failed to do in Fukuoka. They beat the reigning world champions in the quarterfinals. While it’s true that Hungary didn’t do its best, France’s win is a result that deserves everyone’s respect.

The French team is now just one step away from securing a medal. It will face Croatia tomorrow and will play against Italy or Spain on Saturday. It remains to be seen whether the French have enough mental and physical energy left for the upcoming big challenges.

Regardless of the outcome, the team has already made history, and their best performance should yet to come at the Paris Games.

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