In a dramatic World Championship group stage showdown, Argentina pulled off a stunning upset over Olympic champions France, winning a tense five-set battle to secure their place in the Round of 16 and eliminate Les Bleus from the tournament. Leading the charge was Argentina’s top scorer, Luciano Vicentin, who racked up 22 points and sparked jubilant celebrations from his team.
However, the post-match festivities took an unexpected turn when French head coach Andrea Giani approached Argentina’s squad with an unusual request. According to Argentine journalists and bloggers, Giani asked Marcelo Méndez’s players to tone down their celebrations out of respect for some French players who had just played their final match representing their country. Argentine captain Luciano De Cecco later addressed the incident with the media:
“Honestly, I think he thought we were celebrating against them, but in reality, we celebrate the same way after every match. He possibly saw it as an ‘attack’ on them. We told him politely that no, we celebrated like this when we beat Poland, and we celebrate like this in every match we’re fortunate enough to win. We never celebrate at the other team—it’s always a celebration for ourselves. He interpreted it in his own way, we explained it to him, and that was it. He left on good terms, so nothing happened.”
France’s tournament had already been rocky following a surprising loss to Finland. Despite a fierce fightback against Argentina, coming back from two sets down to force a tie-break, they ultimately fell short and exited in the group stage.
The incident sparked lively debate on social media. Some praised Giani’s request as a gesture of sportsmanship and respect for players at the end of their international careers. Others criticized it as unsporting, especially given earlier footage showing France attempting gamesmanship during the match.
For Argentina, the victory was a euphoric moment and a sign of growing strength on the world stage. For France, it marked the close of a significant chapter in their volleyball history.
