Benjamin Toniutti looks for focus and drive till end

France got off to a flying start at the 2021 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League with four wins on the trot - before Serbia, in spectacular style, brought their streak to an end on Friday afternoon at Italy's Adriatic resort of Rimini.

France rebounded the very next day, but not before taken all the way by plucky Japan.

Captain Benjamin Toniutti was wise (and maybe prophetic) when asked after France's fourth win and the fact that for a day they were the only unbeaten team amongst the 16 at the VNL.

"But we have only played four games," Toniutti had said. "The competition is still very long and we are only at the beginning. It's important to see the progress of the team, because we are at the beginning of the preparations to the Olympic Games and because we use this tournament also to prepare for Tokyo. We just have to see how we can be better every day."

Internal competitiveness is also high within the French team.

"We are 18 players and only 12 will go to the Olympics, so it's tough - but we are like a family," said the 31-year-old setter. "Today some players were outside the court, some on the bench, tomorrow we will have new players on the court. It doesn't matter who is playing, we just have to push each other and be the best."

But for the time being focus is right here in Rimini, where the VNL continues unabated.

"We only want to see how we improve through this tournament. We already played better than in the first week, so we have to continue this way. There will definitely be some ups and downs, because we are working hard also physically, so we are not in the perfect shape yet, but we have to be aggressive and focused until the end."