The Olympic champions appeared on course to add a maiden VNL crown to their trophy cabinet after winning the opening two sets, but a spirited American comeback meant the celebarations had to wait.

However, France won the crucial fifth set to claim a 25-16, 25-19, 15-25, 21-25, 15-10 win and the VNL title.

World champions Poland beat Italy 25-16, 25-23, 25-20 in the battle for the bronze medal.

It is a third VNL medal in a row for Poland, following silver in 2021 and bronze in 2019.

Before today's final, France had not dropped a set in the knockout rounds, which were played entirely in Bologna's Unipol Arena.

The French beat Japan in the quarter-finals and Italy in the semi-finals.

The Americans beat Poland in the semi-finals and 2021 winners Brazil in the last eight, in pursuit of a first VNL crown.

It was the US' second trip to the final, following a 2019 defeat to Russia - a team banned from this year's competition because of the war in Ukraine.