Brazil's National Team

    I agree with you Jist, Brazil's team has always failed in crucial matches. Luckily, there's a psychologist working with the girls to help them focus, be calm and be confident in the important matches. Something tells me this year our girls will be rewarded for their dedication. Let's wait and see what happens in the OG!

    Well, I believe their efforts are paying off already!


    Brazil seems to have Grand Prix 2008 in its pocket! :drink:

    I don't see much difference between the WGP and the Montreux Volley Masters or the Courmayeur Tournament.
    Although this is an official tournament of the FIVB and it counts points for the World Ranking, what really matters this year is the Olympic Games. It was nice to see that Brazil's team evolved. The level of Brazil's game has improved a lot. But what really matters is the Golden Medal at the Olympics.


    .

    They had this week off and next week they will resume their preparation at the Saquarema Volleyball Training Center in Rio de Janeiro.
    They will be training there for a week and then they'll get on board to Tokio for another week of trainings before arriving to Beijing.

    Brazil vs. Argelia - 1 victory, 0 defeats


    Brasil 3 - 0 Argélia (25-11, 25-11, 25-10) 2008 OG


    Brazil vs. Russia - 5 victories, 2 defeats, 19 sets won, 8 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 0 Rússia (25-22, 25-14, 25-08 ) 2005 Courmayeur Tournament
    Brasil 3 – 0 Rússia (25-15, 25-19, 25-22) 2006 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 1 Rússia (25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17) 2006 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 – 1 Rússia (27-29, 25-14, 27-25, 25-22) 2006 WCH
    Brasil 2 – 3 Rússia (25-15, 23-25, 18-25, 25-20, 13-15) 2006 WCH Final Match
    Brasil 2 – 3 Rússia (16-25, 25-15, 25-19, 17-25, 13-15) 2007 WGP
    Brasil 3 - 0 Rússia (25-14, 25-14, 25-16) 2008 OG


    The curious thing about it is that both defeats were in the tie-breaker and by the minimum amount of points.


    Brazil vs. Serbia - 8 victories, 0 defeats, 24 sets won, 2 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 0 Sérvia (25-18, 25-18, 25-19) 2005 Courmayeur Tournament
    Brasil 3 – 1 Sérvia (25-17, 25-14, 21-25, 25-20) 2006 WCH Semifinal Match
    Brasil 3 – 0 Sérvia (25-14, 25-09, 25-17) 2007 Friendly Match
    Brasil 3 – 0 Sérvia (25-22, 25-22, 25-13) 2007 Friendly Match
    Brasil 3 – 1 Sérvia (25-12, 25-15, 26-28, 25-17) 2007 Friendly Match
    Brasil 3 – 0 Sérvia (25-16, 25-17, 25-20) 2007 Friendly Match
    Brasil 3 – 0 Sérvia (25-13, 25-14, 25-21) 2007 World Cup
    Brasil 3 - 0 Sérvia (25-15, 25-13, 25-23) 2008 OG


    Brazil vs. Khazakstan - 3 victories, 0 defeats, 9 sets won, 0 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 0 Cazaquistão (25-17, 25-13, 25-15) 2006 WCH
    Brasil 3 – 0 Cazaquistão (25-10, 25-17, 25-19) 2008 WGP
    Brasil 3 - 0 Cazaquistão (25-13, 25-06, 27-25) 2008 OG


    Brazil vs. Italy - 11 victories, 3 defeats, 35 sets won, 15 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 0 Itália (25-20, 25-22, 25-21) 2005 Courmayeur Tournament
    Brasil 3 – 1 Itália (28-26, 27-25, 21-25, 25-16) 2005 Montreux Volley Masters
    Brasil 3 – 2 Itália (25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 27-29, 15-07) 2005 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 – 0 Itália (25-19, 25-18, 25-10) 2006 Friendly Match
    Brasil 3 – 0 Itália (25-21, 25-16, 25-10) 2006 Montreux Volley Masters
    Brasil 3 – 1 Itália (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-13) 2006 Courmayeur Tournament
    Brasil 3 – 0 Itália (25-16, 26-24, 25-20) 2006 Courmayeur Tournament Final Match
    Brasil 3 – 0 Itália (25-22, 25-22, 30-28 ) 2006 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 2 Itália (25-19, 24-26, 26-24, 24-26, 15-08 ) 2007 WGP
    Brasil 1 – 3 Itália (20-25, 21-25, 25-15, 22-25) 2007 WGP
    Brasil 1 – 3 Itália (22-25, 25-19, 18-25, 21-25) 2007 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 0 – 3 Itália (20-25, 23-25, 19-25) 2007 World Cup
    Brasil 3 – 0 Itália (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) 2008 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 - 0 Itália (25-16, 25-22, 25-17) 2008 OG


    Brazil vs. China - 8 victories, 4 defeats, 26 sets won, 21 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 2 China (18-25, 24-26, 32-30, 25-15, 20-18 ) 2005 Montreux Volley Masters Final Match
    Brasil 0 – 3 China (22-25, 21-25, 20-25) 2005 WGP
    Brasil 0 – 3 China (18-25, 17-25, 19-25) 2005 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 – 2 China (15-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-08 ) 2005 World Grand Champions Cup
    Brasil 3 – 2 China (25-15, 17-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-12) 2006 Montreux Volley Masters Final Round
    Brasil 3 – 0 China (25-22, 25-19, 25-17) 2006 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 2 China (24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 25-16, 19-17) 2006 WCH
    Brasil 0 – 3 China (21-25, 21-25, 13-25) 2007 WGP
    Brasil 2 – 3 China (25-22, 24-26, 25-22, 22-25, 13-15) 2008 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 0 China (25-21, 25-17, 25-20) 2008 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 1 China (25-18, 25-16, 21-25, 25-18 ) 2008 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 - 0 China (27-25, 25-22, 25-14) 2008 OG


    Brazil vs. Cuba - 9 victories, 1 defeat, 29 sets won, 12 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 1 Cuba (24-26, 25-11, 25-19, 25-23) 2005 Montreux Volley Masters
    Brasil 3 – 1 Cuba (22-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23) 2005 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 2 Cuba (25-16, 21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 16-14) 2005 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 – 1 Cuba (19-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-23) 2006 Montreux Volley Masters Semifinal Match
    Brasil 3 – 1 Cuba (25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11) 2006 Pan-American Cup
    Brasil 3 – 1 Cuba (25-19, 25-27, 25-20, 25-21) 2006 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 0 Cuba (25-20, 25-15, 25-18 ) 2006 WGP Semifinal Match
    Brasil 2 – 3 Cuba (27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 32-34, 15-17) 2007 Pan-American Games Final Match
    Brasil 3 – 2 Cuba (25-19, 19-25, 25-17, 19-25, 15-11) 2007 World Cup
    Brasil 3 – 0 Cuba (25-14, 25-15, 25-20) 2008 WGP Final Round


    Brazil vs. USA - 9 victories, 2 defeats, 32 sets won, 12 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 0 EUA (25-16, 25-19, 25-19) 2005 World Grand Champions Cup
    Brasil 3 – 1 EUA (20-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-10) 2006 Pan-American Cup Semifinal Match
    Brasil 3 – 1 EUA (29-27 25-22, 23-25, 25-21) 2006 World Grand Prix
    Brasil 3 – 0 EUA (25-23, 25-21, 25-13) 2006 WCH
    Brasil 3 – 0 EUA (25-13, 25-20, 25-20) 2007 Pan-American Games Semifinal Match
    Brasil 2 – 3 EUA (25-17, 25-16, 21-25, 23-25, 09-15) 2007 World Cup
    Brasil 3 – 2 EUA (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 21-25, 17-15) 2008 Friendly Match
    Brasil 2 – 3 EUA (21-25, 25-19, 27-29, 25-17, 11-15) 2008 Friendly Match
    Brasil 4 – 1 EUA (25-16, 25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 15-08 ) 2008 Friendly Match
    Brasil 3 – 0 EUA (25-19, 25-19, 25-23) 2008 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 - 1 EUA (25-15, 18-25, 25-13, 25-21) 2008 OG


    Brazil vs. Poland - 6 victories, 0 defeats, 18 sets won, 0 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 0 Polônia (25-22, 25-10, 25-23) 2005 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 0 Polônia (25-17, 25-13, 25-19) 2005 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 0 Polônia (26-24, 25-18, 25-22) 2005 World Grand Champions Cup
    Brasil 3 – 0 Polônia (25-17, 25-13, 25-15) 2006 Montreux Volley Masters
    Brasil 3 – 0 Polônia (25-21, 25-21, 25-17) 2007 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 – 0 Polônia (25-12, 25-20, 25-22) 2007 World Cup


    Brazil vs. Japan - 16 victories, 0 defeats, 50 sets won, 8 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 1 Japão (25-22, 25-18, 19-25, 25-18 ) 2005 Montreux Volley Masters
    Brasil 3 – 2 Japão (17-25, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 20-18 ) 2005 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 1 Japão (25-20, 25-27, 25-20, 25-22) 2005 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 – 0 Japão (25-17, 25-19, 25-15) 2005 World Grand Champions Cup
    Brasil 3 – 0 Japão (25-19, 25-15, 25-15) 2006 Montreux Volley Masters
    Brasil 3 – 0 Japão (25-22, 25-22, 25-15) 2006 Courmayeur Tournament
    Brasil 3 – 0 Japão (25-22, 25-16, 25-20) 2006 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 0 Japão (25-21, 25-21, 25-18 ) 2006 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 1 Japão (23-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-17) 2006 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 4 – 1 Japão (16-25, 25-13, 25-10, 25-17, 15-10) 2006 Friendly Match
    Brasil 4 – 1 Japão (25-17, 25-20, 21-25, 25-15, 15-10) 2006 Friendly Match
    Brasil 3 – 0 Japão (25-15, 25-19, 25-13) 2007 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 1 Japão (25-16, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18 ) 2007 World Cup
    Brasil 3 – 0 Japão (25-16, 25-21, 25-15) 2008 WGP
    Brasil 3 – 0 Japão (25-23, 25-23, 25-19) 2008 WGP Final Round
    Brasil 3 - 0 Japão (25-12, 25-20, 25-16) 2008 OG


    Brazil vs. Venezuela - 2 victories, 0 defeats, 6 sets won, 0 sets lost


    Brasil 3 – 0 Venezuela (25-10, 25-10, 25-11) - 2005 South American Championship
    Brasil 3 – 0 Venezuela (25-10, 25-17, 25-17) - 2007 South American Championship

    Good Statistics


    Italy won't be the biggest rival as the absence of Del Core.
    I;m now afraid of Cuba and Russia.
    Cuba is unbeatable when they make no mistake.
    Russia is very mysterious up to now. I haven't saw they play in internal game so long! If Godina is fit, the team is horrible.

    Comparing the preparation of both Brazil's and Russia's team, I strongly believe the main difference between these two teams is:


    1) Brazil's team has more rhythm and more confidence but its game is well-known by the Russians already;
    2) Russia's team game is not known by Brazilians yet, but they don't have the same rhythm and confidence of Brazil's team;


    So far I have no information about the Russian Team, which makes me a little anxious, but I strongly believe their game is rather predictable. Even so, because of the Russian players height and physical strength, all matches against them are difficult.

    Well, the stats are good, except that they don't show how these defeats/victories happened.


    On the other hand, I must admit Brazilian is prepared (or at least seems), this time. Finally Carol G was cut :whistle: Thaísa was just in better shape. Brazilian team have a chance, but again, OG is not made of stats and to be champion the team must win in the important matches, not win all in the 1st phase and then lose at quarter/semis/finals.


    Russia is far from being the only adversary Brazil got on its way.

    Of course there are other strong teams. That goes without saying. I was just comparing Russia's and Brazil's situation because these teams had prepared for the OG in a totally different manner.


    When it comes to the way teams prepare to the OG, they can be divided in two groups:


    1) Russia, Serbia and Poland are in the same category. These teams preferred to stay practising. The other teams don't have much information about their game, which is a big advantage, cause it will be hard to their opponents to try to anticipate their plays and block or dig their attacks in a more effective manner. On the other hand, these teams didn't have the opportunity of testing their strategy against other strong teams in official matches.


    2) Brazil, Cuba, Italy and China opted to play the WGP. These teams had the opportunity of playing against strong teams in an official competition. They definitely have more rhythm than Russia, Poland and Serbia. On the other hand, these teams were exposed. Their game is being analyzed by all the participants of the OG, it will be much harder for them to try to surprise their opponents.


    In less than a month we will see which choice was the best.


    As for Thaísa, she was even better than Fabiana in this year's WGP. Carol Gattaz didn't play bad this WGP. Even so, the other middle-blockers are better than her, especially in serving and attacking, Carol is limited in attacking, the only play in which she is effective is the slide attack.


    Finally, if any competition of any sport in the world were made of stats, the teams would not need to play against each other. Again, that is common knowledge. Anyway, such an impressive win-loss record will help Brazil's team to feel confident against whatever opponent in the OG. It is also important to remark that, even if Brazil lost some important matches, the team didn't give up until the last point. The vast majority of such losses were in the tie-breaker by the minimum difference of points, which means that, even when Brazil's team lose, they win at least 2 sets and 13 points in the tie-breaker. That shows with no shadow of doubt that the team is on the right track.

    Quote from Celso

    Finally, if any competition of any sport in the world were made of stats, the teams would not need to play against each other. Again, that is common knowledge. Anyway, such an impressive win-loss record will help Brazil's team to feel confident against whatever opponent in the OG. It is also important to remark that, even if Brazil lost some important matches, the team didn't give up until the last point. The vast majority of such losses were in the tie-breaker by the minimum difference of points, which means that, even when Brazil's team lose, they win at least 2 sets and 13 points in the tie-breaker. That shows with no shadow of doubt that the team is on the right track.

    Well, I have to disagree in the "which manner was better to prepare": I've always defended and will keep defending that it doesn't matter how exposed is the team, no matter if they have played a tournament or only practised (don't forget that those teams like RUS, POL and SRB are playing friendly matches between themselves)... if you are good, you'll show off your potential and win the same way. On the other hand, you can put a bad team to practise and play games all year and they won't evolve. I think the quality of the team matters much more than the way they prepared. By quality I mean both psychological and physical.


    Again, I disagree hardly on the stats part. They can win 1000 times over Russia by 25x0 and they will still remember the game they lost. Specially if it happened twice in decisive moments. And let's recall some of the losses on important matches:
    - Brazil x Italy, World Cup, Brazil lost 3x0 with its main team at court.
    - Brazil x USA, World Cup, Brazil lost 3x2 after an "won" match.
    - Brazil x Cuba, Pan American Games, Brazil lost 3x2 playing at home and leading in the 4th set after a spectular turnaround.
    - Brazil x Russia, WCH 2006, Brazil lost after leading with 13x10 in tie break (or 13x11, never watched this game again).
    - Brazil x Russia, Athens, Brazil lost 3x2 after missing one point at 4th set... and leading on tie break as well...


    I am NOT saying that Brazil team only have bad things. They also won great matches (I can't ever forget the Brazil x China at the finals of Montreaux 2005), but my point was that numbers mean NOTHING when you have such a history like that. They are humans, they know what each defeat or victory mean to themselves. Personally I think that if they want to motivate the players, numbers would do no good or bad to them.

    I totally disagree... if the best team in the World didn't prepare well, they will lose! It is not only talent that counts... especially in volleyball, the sport whose players depend the most on each other. It goes without saying that numbers themselves don't say much, anyway, if numbers meant nothing in volleyball there would not be an statistics professional in every team. Besides, volleyball is a sport in which every point is disputed the same way, there are lots of repetitions. Teams build up their strategy in volleyball based on the other team's information. It is crystal clear that being exposed counts a lot.


    When it comes to being psychologically prepared, the win-loss record counts a lot. Of course a favourable win-loss record will improve any team's confidence, especially in women's volleyball. I'm afraid you are totally wrong when it comes to this subject.


    I'm sorry Lothie, it just so happens I have a broader concept of quality, for me this concept also includes the quality of the preparation of each team. If preparation didn't count, the results of the matches would be the same, the team with the best players would always win and this is not what happens, because it also depends on the quality of the team, and a group of good players is not the same thing as a good team. Preparation and being exposed count a lot, and nothing you wrote me convinced me of the contrary.

    Celso..I think you didn't quite understood what Nivea is saying...


    OF COURSE THAT PREPARATION is important...and of course that all team need to prepare themself...what she said is that the way of the preeparation (if it is training or playing tournaments) that don't matter!!!! I kind of agree...I think that each team has to find their way...if the group is not much experient..I think it can worth to play torunaments...but if it is...and you want to focous in one thing...is better to stay training..and making friendly games...


    I agree with her about the number thing...I don't think mean much....cause what matter is the way each defeat or victory touched the player...the mind...is really important this time....No one used to say anything about the Netherland..and the thing is..they get to the final round..and won everything...didn't matter at that point that they has lost most of the games for everyone in that final round!!!!


    And again at the World Cup..well..Brasil won most of the matches against Italy...Italy lost most to China..Cuba...but don't matter...they get better prepared at the World Cup...and won..is that....the numbers didn't matter at this point in nothing!!!!


    I think that confidence is the most important thing!!!


    Who gets felling well at the finals of the OG will win it...is the day...the passed don't matter at that point...who wakes better go trhough..who doesn't is out...is "painful" as that...

    Joana, please, I understood what Nivea said and I understood what you said too. I appreciate your concern, but I still disagree.


    First of all, being regular means a lot. Having a favourable win-loss record means a lot, especially in women's volleyball. That helps to build up confidence. Of course each match is a new story, that's obvious. Of course there are much other important factors, but being regular for 4 years is not something that should be taken for granted.


    I just put this data for the sake of curiosity. As I said before... if it all boiled down to numbers... there would be no need for the matches to be played. Besides, you and Nivea don't have to draw conclusions from it. These data are not a logical sequence you have to complete. It is just some píece of information that helps understand how Brazil's team performed so far.


    Please, don't draw conclusions that can't be drawn from the data I posted.

    Celso, is Carol G not coming to Beijing? How bout Carol A?

    "[size=8]It's years and years of work and sacrifice and dedication. Along with a lot of these girls, we've sweat and we've bled and we've cried together in past Olympics. It just brought tears to my eyes, & I'm more than thrilled. This will be forever." -LOGAN MAILE LEI TOM (Silver Medallist - 2008 Beijing & 2012 London Olympic Games, 2011 World Cup runner up, 2003 & 2007 World Cup 3rd place, 2002 World Champs runner up, 4-time World GrandPrix Champs)

    Iagree with you that being regular helps...


    even more cause give you confidence...witch for me is really important...


    But this numbers...saying Brasil won most of the games...won't be there at Beijing....so in nothing helps the girls....what they need is to get there and play well....don't matter the past....



    Jist....Carol Gattaz is out of the Olympic Games...and the setter Carol Alb.is going to be there.... :aww: :whistle:

    so 3 MB's for Brazil? Walewska, Fabiana and Thaisa?

    "[size=8]It's years and years of work and sacrifice and dedication. Along with a lot of these girls, we've sweat and we've bled and we've cried together in past Olympics. It just brought tears to my eyes, & I'm more than thrilled. This will be forever." -LOGAN MAILE LEI TOM (Silver Medallist - 2008 Beijing & 2012 London Olympic Games, 2011 World Cup runner up, 2003 & 2007 World Cup 3rd place, 2002 World Champs runner up, 4-time World GrandPrix Champs)

    A quote from Celso in the olympic thread:


    I really like Carol Albuquerque. I think she is the better choice as the 2nd setter of Brazil's team.