How far can the French team go?

[Matteones]

I have been quite impressed by the French Team, they have definitely arrived on the world stage with a lot of very strong contenders, 10 in the top 100 WTT list at the moment:
Lebrun brothers (n.6 and n.14), Gauzy (n.16), Poret (n.25), Coton (n.28), Seyfried (n.47), Bardet (n.48), De Nodrest (n.58), Rolland (n.86), Bourassaud (n.90).

1) Will they dominate the european scene and if yes for how long?
2) Are they the most credible threat to the Chinese team?
3) What work is behind the scenes to break through with so many good players?

I personally think they will dominate the European scene, Lebrun brothers, Poret and Coton are all very young and we don't know their ceiling yet, whilst already being at the very top of the ranking lists.

I hope they present a threat to the Chinese team in important competitions, especially team competitions, in my eyes there is only one player who is on another level and it's Wang Chuqin, all the other chinese are strong, but their game is not at all untouchable.

Their work in France really interests me, as I know there is a very strong player base there, but it is not wider than Germany, Japan and Korea. How did they get here?

 

[Yuomay]

It's really a combination of a lot of factors. But the foundation is simply that Table Tennis is a massive sport in France.

There are 3114 clubs of which 41 have professional teams.

 

[zeio]

To keep it short for now, how far FRA can reach will come down to Alexis if he's part of the team.

 

[zeio]

Really came down to Alexis.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...0-world-teams-championships.37691/post-573795
WTTC 2026
Stage 1A
MT Grp2
JPN 2-3 FRA
Harimoto 3-0 A. Lebrun (8, 7, 6)
Matsushima 3-1 F. Lebrun (9, 5, -6, 10)
Togami 2-3 Coton (6, -4, 10, -9, -12)
Harimoto 0-3 F. Lebrun (-9, -8, -6)
M5 Matsushima 2-3 A. Lebrun (-9, -8, 8, 9, -9)
G4 79, 119
G5 35, 75, 78, 88, 810, 910, 911

 

[Matteones]

He indeed was the last one, but it was a wonderful team effort I would say.

 

[d3nium]

I think Coton has to play for France.

Gauzy is my guy, but even he can't get into this side imo.

 

[Tyce]

He indeed was the last one, but it was a wonderful team effort I would say.

Plus Alexis lost 3-0 to Harimoto... It's more like he saved his own performance by beating Matsushima.
Coton saved the team

 

[zeio]

Han Ying's husband Lei Yang said in his live stream that FRA has the "looks" of a champion besides CHN after the group stage. The consistent performance of Little B plus the young Coton who managed to beat Togami and Jha at 18 plus the Deranged Blade Big B. LOL

https://weibo.com/7790173399/QE0jF1Oqe
体育课代表wik
26-5-5 22:35
发布于 江苏
来自 微博视频号
雷洋教练: 说心里话，法国队从排位赛这么打出来以后，是除了中国队以外法国队有一点冠军相的！这一次比赛不光光是个人，小勒布伦发挥稳还有科顿这么小，今年刚18岁，然后第一次参加世乒赛，已经把户上隼辅和美国贾哈赢了，再加上大布在神经刀一下。
所以我觉得法国队是除了中国队以外，目前为止是有冠军像的，也是最强的！

#微博二创视频创作季# [http://t.cn/AXJjqRH9] 体育课代表wik的微博视频

 

[NetProphet]

I'd have to agree with him.
Sweden V France final by the looks of it, France to win.

 

[zeio]

Regardless of the match outcome, Alexis is no doubt the volatile variable of the team.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...0-world-teams-championships.37691/post-574966
WTTC 2026
WTT Fan Vote
25% vs 75% 24% vs 76%
MT QF
BRA 0-3 FRA
Calderano 0-3 Coton (-10, -8, -9)
G1 710, 1010, 1012
G2 30, 32, 42, 43, 53, 54, 64, 65, 75, 77, 87, 811
G3 03, 63, 64, 84, 810, 910, 911
Teodoro 0-3 F. Lebrun (-4, -2, -4)
Iizuka 1-3 A. Lebrun (11, -3, -4, -7)
G1 610, 1010, 1011, 1311
G2 15 big net for Lebrun, 311
G3 01, 11 Lebrun served off the net, 12, 46, 411
G4 01, 11, 12, 22 sideline edge for Iizuka, 42, 45, 55, 58 TO for BRA, 510, 710 TO for FRA, 711
Calderano - F. Lebrun
Teodoro - Coton

 

[zeio]

As expected of Alexis...

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...0-world-teams-championships.37691/post-575136
WTTC 2026
Will it work like TPE vs SWE?

WTT Fan Vote
61% vs 39% 63% vs 37%
MT SF
CHN 3-1 FRA
WCQ 3-2 Coton (13, -11, -9, 4, 8)
G1 20, 22, 62 endline edge for WCQ, 64, 94, 95 dead net for Coton, 98, 108, 109 dead net for Coton, 1011, 1211, 1213, 1413 sideline edge for WCQ, 1513
G2 03, 23, 24, 54 TO for FRA, 74, 76, 86, 88, 98 slight net for WCQ, 108, 1010 sideline edge for Coton, 1011, 1111, 1113
G3 20 Coton served into the net, 21, 31, 32, 42, 45, 55 Coton served into the net, 56, 66, 68, 88, 89, 99, 911
G4 20, 21 endline edge for Coton, 41, 42, 62, 64 TO for CHN, 114
G5 02, 12, 13, 23, 24, 34, 35 sideline edge for Coton, 75, 77, 87, 88, 118
LSD 0-3 F. Lebrun (-9, -9, -10)
G1 911 medium net for Lebrun
G2 610, 810 TO for FRA, 910, 911
G3 31, 33, 53 dead net for LSD, 54, 64, 65, 75, 76 TO for CHN, 77, 87, 89, 99, 910 slight mishit for Lebrun?, 1010, 1012
LJK 3-2 A. Lebrun (-3, -1, 13, 10, 2)
G3 52, 54 TO for CHN, 64, 65, 75, 76, 86, 88 LJK missed the FH smash, 98, 910, 1110, 1112, 1312, 1313, 1513
G4 40, 41, 61, 62, 92, 93, 103, 1010, 1210
G5 30 TO for FRA, 32, 102 Lebrun faulted for toss height? toss angle and TTR stands, 112
WCQ 3-1 F. Lebrun (11, -9, 9, 4)
G1 30, 32, 42 sideline edge for WCQ, 52, 54, 64 endline edge for WCQ, 65 slight net for Lebrun, 66, 76, 77, 107, 1010 dead net for Lebrun, 1011, 1111 dead net for WCQ, 1311
G2 20 TO for FRA, 23, 33, 34, 44, 45, 65, 67, 87, 89 medium net for Lebrun, 810, 910, 911
G3 12, 22, 23 Lebrun saved the net, 24, 74, 76 TO for CHN, 78, 88 sideline edge for WCQ, 98, 99 mishit for Lebrun, 119
G4 40 endline edge for WCQ, 70, 72, 92, 93 sideline edge for Lebrun, 103, 104, 114
LSD - Coton

中国队明天几乎明牌，看法国如何排兵布阵 (China's lineup will be almost completely out of the question tomorrow; let's see how France arranges the lineup)
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/10701116285
beginwithI 肯定是科顿打二单，因为科顿的状态比大布更好，而且骰子对遭遇战比较难打，与其让大勒打骰子去白送一分还不如给科顿一个机会去冲击一下骰子看有没有意外的惊喜
IP属地:河北来自Android客户端3楼2026-05-09 05:40收起回复
(Cotton will definitely be the 2nd singles, because Coton is in better form than Big B, and Dice has a harder time in skirmishes. Rather than letting Big B face Dice and give away a point, it's better to give Coton a chance to try his luck and see if there are any unexpected surprises)
流留liu: 法国队不一定这么想
2026-5-9 05:53回复
(The French team may not think that way)
beginwithI: 回复 流留liu :看法国队布阵就知道他一定会这么想，不然打只有雨果的巴西还让大勒去打三单明显就是为了让大布避战主人雨果，同样的道理，半决赛还会让大布去三单的
2026-5-9 05:56回复
(Looking at the French team's lineup, you can tell they were thinking the same thing. Otherwise, why would they have Big B play 3rd singles against Brazil, a team with only Hugo? It's obvious they wanted to avoid having Big B face his master Hugo. Similarly, they would have had Big B play 3rd singles in the semifinals)
流留liu: 回复 beginwithI :打巴西其实没有压力，即使大勒输雨果，也是稳赢的。所以干脆让科顿打，输了也就输了。但是打国乒心态不同了。也许他们就想硬碰硬拼。大勒想拼林诗栋，小勒想拼大头（对kk）上风。）科顿拼框框。
2026-5-9 06:19回复
(There's no pressure playing Brazil. Even if Big Le loses to Hugo, the win is guaranteed. So they let Coton play. If he loses, so be it. But the mentality is different against the CNT. Maybe they want a head-on battle. Big Le wants to challenge Lin Shidong, Little Le wants to challenge Big Head (upper hand against KK), and Coton challenges BinBin)
glutleon1985: 回复 流留liu :放心，法国已经明牌了，科顿一定是二单
2026-5-9 06:46回复
(Rest assured. France has already revealed their hand. Cotton will definitely be the 2nd singles)

 

[zeio]

Same vibe.

Fan Zhendong (CHN) vs Alexis Lebrun (FRA) | MT Final - Match 2 | #ITTFWorlds2024
https://youtu.be/NOsMWmrUOFc?t=414

Liang Jingkun at #ITTFWorlds London 2026
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2-fdv-2bdXk

Liang Jingkun vs Alexis Lebrun | MT - SF | #ITTFWorlds2026
https://youtu.be/kxenNVUvBLI?t=260

 

[Matteones]

Yes, Alexis definitely came so short on this. It was their occasion, I hope there will be more. Tomorrow it will be Japan's occasion, let's see if they are able to take it. China is still favorite, always is, until beaten.

 

[NextLevel]

Yes, Alexis definitely came so short on this. It was their occasion, I hope there will be more. Tomorrow it will be Japan's occasion, let's see if they are able to take it. China is still favorite, always is, until beaten.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. They have plot-armor.