The Volleyball World Championship is building excitement, with France set to play Argentina on September 18. This match is expected to be very competitive.
France
France is a strong team in volleyball but has faced challenges in this championship. They began with a straightforward win against South Korea, taking the match 25:12, 25:18, 25:16. However, in their game against Finland, they were unexpectedly defeated in five sets: 19:25, 25:17, 27:29, 25:21, 9:15.
Going into the last stage of the group, France must win to move forward. With Finland likely to beat South Korea, France’s fate is in their own hands. As the reigning Olympic champions, not advancing from the group would be a significant setback.
Argentina
Argentina is currently leading their group before the final game. They made a strong comeback in their first match, beating Finland in five sets after being down 0-2: 19:25, 18:25, 25:22, 25:22, 15:11. Their second match against South Korea was also a win, though it was still a challenge: 25:22, 23:25, 25:21, 25:18.
Despite leading the group, Argentina has not yet secured a playoff spot. They could still advance with a loss, but to avoid complications, they need to focus on winning.
H2H
The head-to-head record between these teams is competitive, with both sides claiming victories. Earlier this year, Argentina won their match in the Nations League in four sets. France finished third overall in the League, which allowed them to progress, while Argentina did not make the knockout stage.
Prediction
This match is crucial, with high stakes for playoff qualification. France is seen as the favorite, but they have not yet played at their best in this tournament. I anticipate a close match that could be intense, so my bet is on total points over 180.5.