Olympic Games - 2012 London (qualification process)

    Denmark - Spain 1:3 (15:25, 25:22, 24:26, 25:27) stats
    Romania - Netherlands 1:3 (23:25, 29:31, 25:18, 22:25) stats


    The Netherlands claimed tonight the first match of the elimination round – whereby quite many teams are starting their quest to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London – by defeating Romania 3:1 (25-23, 31-29, 18-25, 25-22) in Baia Mare. The “Oranjes” can look confidently at the return match coming up next week in Eindhoven where they are expected to claim a ticket for the next stage scheduled for late November.
    The guests from Holland started the game with a very good tempo, anchored by young setter Nimir Abdel-Aziz while wing spiker Jeroen Trommel and middle blocker Wytze Kooistra finalized quite many attacks for the provisional 8:4. Romania attempted a sort of comeback via opposite Adrian Gontariu and wing spiker Adrian Voinea but it did not work that well, as the guests set the pace with a margin of 4 by the second mandatory stop (16:12). Romania’s libero Adrian Feher did his best in defense to cut the gap but in the end the Netherlands pocketed the opening set at 25-23.
    Romania got back on track in set 2 where the hosts dictated the tempo (8:7, 16:15) with Gontariu shaking the “orange” defense with some powerful spikes. Jeroen Trommel fought back for the Netherlands with the support of captain Rob Bontje who excelled at blocking. After drawing level at 20, both teams played very concentrated and Romania got the chance to go for the 1:1 at 24:23. However, the hosts could not finalize that opportunity and after some more side-outs, Trommel sealed the set for Holland with the incredible score of 31-29.
    With the support of a splendid and very passionate crowd at the “Lascar Pana” sports hall in Baia Mare, Romania was able to get rid of the pressure stemming from trailing two sets down and got immediately the lead (8:6) stretching it with the always splendid attacks of a relentless Gontariu. Holland tried to claw back with Jeroen Rauwerdink and Kooistra but this set fully belonged to the home side (25-18 ).
    In set 4 the guests moved up at both mandatory stops (8:7, 16:13) while Romania was still there with the help of Gontariu and of middle blocker Sergiu Stancu. However, the superb play displayed by the Netherlands in defense eventually made the difference with the set ending at 25-22 for the final 3:1.
    Adrian Gontariu totaled a massive haul of 27 points for Romania while Tony Krolis clipped 16 for the Netherlands.
    “Next week in Eindhoven we can only go for a second win” stated Dutch coach Edwin Benne. “Romania is a good team with some great players but we are better” he said. Benne praised the performance of Abdel-Aziz and libero Gijs Jorna: “Nimir was simply outstanding with his service and block. All alone he scored 5 points in the second set with his blocks” added Benne.
    CEV

    Quote from Kaziyski

    Hungary - Latvia 2:3 (25:23, 26:24, 21:25, 18:25, 10:15)


    Montenegro - Macedonia 3:1 (31:29, 27:25, 28:30, 25:22)


    2nd matches:
    Latvia - Hungary 3:1 (25:23, 25:14, 21:25, 25:18 ) stats
    Former Y.R. of Macedonia - Montenegro 2:3 (22:25, 25:23, 22:25, 25:21, 4:15) stats


    Latvia clips second win with Hungary and a pass for the next stage
    Latvia’s national team qualified this afternoon for the next round of the qualification process to the 2012 Olympics in London after stamping a 3:1 win to defeat Hungary at the splendid “Zemgale” Olympic sports centre in Jelgava, some 40 km from Latvia’s capital city, Riga. Latvia had already clipped the first game last week in Kecskemét and this time did not need the tie-break to take home a positive result (25-23, 25-14, 21-25, 25-18 ).
    Latvia was massively helped by its main star, Gundars Celitans, who totaled a haul of 25 points, but Ansis Medenis and Lauris Iecelnieks also finished in double digits with 17 and 13 respectively.
    As for Hungary, David Szabo totaled 23 while 16 more were contributed by captain Andras Geiger.
    Latvia’s head coach Raimonds Vilde commented after the game: “I am satisfied with the result, as we have achieved our goal to advance to the next round. We will be setting other goals and tasks for the future. We experienced some problems in the third set but got rid of all tensions in set 4 where we really played like a good team”.
    Hungary’s mentor Sandor Kantor added: “In my opinion the first set was extremely important for both teams. If you take it home, then you play more relaxed. I have been working with this group only for three weeks; I hope we will have the chance to play Latvia again in the future and get our revenge for these defeats”.


    Montenegro qualifies for next round after away win in Skopje
    The home guys representing the F.Y.R. of Macedonia did not finalize their quest to go for the “golden set” as yesterday night they played the return game with Montenegro in the elimination round that basically opens the European qualification for the 2012 Olympics in London.
    After losing last week 1:3 to Montenegro in Pljevlja, the home team – supported by an impressive crowd of 2,500 spectators at the “Boris Trajkovski” hall in Skopje – eventually surrendered at the tie-break (22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 4-15) after 132 minutes of great play.
    The Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro displayed a very strong performance but the hosts from the neighboring country stayed cool and ultimately claimed the deciding points.
    The home team stormed back twice to draw level after trailing down 0:1 and 1:2 but Montenegro literally dominated the scene in the tie-break, with Macedonia pocketing there only 4 points.
    Montenegro is hence qualified for the next stage (venue still to be determined) which is set to run through next November 21-27.
    CEV


    2nd matches:
    Spain - Denmark 3:0 (25:17, 25:22, 25:21)
    Netherlands - Romania 3:1 (25:20, 23:25, 25:18, 25:18 )


    Spain pockets ticket for next round with speedy win in Teruel
    Spain outclassed Denmark in straight sets (25-17, 25-22, 25-21) tonight at the “Los Planos” sports hall in Teruel to advance to the next round of the Olympic qualification which is coming up in November. The always passionate audience in Teruel – Spain’s Volleyball “Mecca” at the moment – turned into the extra player that really accompanied the home guys along their way to clip a second win after they already had edged Denmark last Saturday in Holte.
    After the 3:1 away win stamped in Denmark, Spain was in a favorable position to book a spot for the next round but the group mentored by Fernano Muñoz did not want to take any risk and played very motivated to avoid the “golden set”.
    It was a first-class performance for the home side well commanded by setter Guillermo Hernan who intelligently divided the offensive work among wing spikers Sergio Noda and Gustavo Delgado and his opposite Iban Perez.
    Denmark’s attempts to turn the game around did not work much, with Spain finalizing the game in three sets to the delight of the home crowd.


    Oranjes qualify for next round after second win over Romania
    The Netherlands convincingly qualified for the next round of the Olympic qualification after they backed up last week’s win in Baia Mare to edge Romania once again with another 3:1 win (25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18 ).
    Dutch coach Edwin Benne as well as Romanian mentor Stelian Moculescu started with the same players they had lined up for the first match. The Dutch were eager to win on their home ground, but did not open sharp today. Romania took the lead in the opening phase and kept on the good side of the score until mid of the first set.
    Then the men around head coach Edwin Benne, supported by the orange crowd in Eindhoven, managed to score five points in a row and took over the lead (14:15, 19:15). Point nr 19 on the Dutch side of the court was the best of the set: after a perfect save of Jeroen Rauwerdink, Jeroen Trommel diagonally spiked with great power. At this point, Moculescu substituted his setter, but it did not sort the effect he was looking for. A flying Rauwerdink spiked in the first set point, Kay van Dijk finished the job perfectly (25-20).


    In the second set, the opening was again for Romania that led with three points at the first technical time-out. The Netherlands managed to even the score (9:9), but after a destructive spike of Sergiu Stancu, Romania widened the gap to three points (12:15). The men of Benne fought back, an unstoppable ball through the centre of team captain Rob Bontje brought the provisional 14:16 on the scoreboard. Then the Dutch showed a revival and after a kill block, followed by an unstoppable spike of van Dijk, the score was evened again (18:18 ). However, Romania kept cool and slowly but surely managed to walk away again (19:22). Supported by the public in Eindhoven, the men in orange came back to 22:23, but Romania did not relent and evened the count (23-25).


    In the third set, the Dutch opened the score for a change. An ace of setter Nimir Abdelaziz contributed a Dutch lead of three points (6:3). However, a few minutes later Romania evened the score apparently effortless (7:7). The teams scored alternately up to the second technical time-out, but then the Dutch took the lead (17:16). Again cheered on by the home crowd, the Dutch train started running. Dutch setter Abdelaziz spiked in for the 22:17 on a Romanian pass, and Jeroen Rauwerdink had the honour to finish the third episode: 25-17.


    By the hand of Dutch team captain Bontje, who scored three blocking points in the first phase of the fourth set, the Netherlands took a modest lead (8:6). The home team found its rhythm that Moculescu tried to interrupt with a time out (14:10). Unfortunately for Romania, the Netherlands were unshakable at this point and cold bloodedly finished the set and the match by an ace of Rauwerdink (25-18 ).
    CEV

    Quote from mariuszj1939


    world tournament Italy -- 1st place


    World qualification tournament - hosts :


    - Italy (Roma 8-10.Jun.2012)


    I've heard that if Italy qualifies through the World Cup someone else will host this tournament

    Quote from rugby


    I've heard that if Italy qualifies through the World Cup someone else will host this tournament

    yes, it's possible - I feel there will be no problem to get new organizer/host espacially it's qualification to OG !

    I have a question: since Japan didn't join the top 4 of Asian Championship, what the pool composition will be in the world qualification game next year？
    In Japan: Japan + Asian top 4 + 1 Euro + 1 America + 1 Africa
    In Germany: Germany + Asian Rk. 6 + 1 Euro + 1 America
    In Italy: Italy + Asian Rk. 7 + 1 Euro + 1 America


    Am I right?

    It looks ok but Italy may be qualified during World Cup or European qualification tournament.
    Additionally FIVB in the past changed composition of many competitions so we shouldn't think too ahead!

    Ok, I realized I definitly need few explanation... please! :flower:


    Quote from mariuszj1939

    continental tournament Europe (host Bulgaria 8-13.May.2012) --
    continental tournament Norceca (host Puerto Rico 11-20.May.2012) --
    continental tournament South America --
    continental tournament Africa --
    continental tournament Asia (Host Japan 2-10.Jun.2012) --


    How do these continental tournament work? How many teams join the tournament and how these teams are chosen? How the tournament is organized? Are all at the same level?


    For example, if both Brazil and Argentina will be in World Cup top 3, they won't partecipate to the SA continental tournament... That means that we will have for sure another SA team? Like, I don't know, Colombia, or Venezuela???? While on the other said in the European continental torunament there will be Serbia, Italy, Poland (unless they didn't reach the podium during the WC), Russia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, France, Czech, Slovenia, Finland and so on?????


    It's "a bit" squilibrated.... If you think that the only team able to won a set vs Brazil in this SACh was Argentina, and the only team able to won sets vs Argentina was Brazil... :what:


    And it's quite the same thought for NORCECA, if both Cuba and USA will qualificated during the WC...


    Quote from mariuszj1939

    World qualification tournament - hosts :
    - Japan (Tokyo 2-10.Jun.2012)
    - Germany (Berlin 8-10.Jun.2012)
    - Italy (Roma 8-10.Jun.2012)


    Quote from Martee

    Japan: Japan + Asian top 4 + 1 Euro + 1 America + 1 Africa
    In Germany: Germany + Asian Rk. 6 + 1 Euro + 1 America
    In Italy: Italy + Asian Rk. 7 + 1 Euro + 1 America


    Ok, first of all I guess that a team can join only one of these world tournaments, right? (in Germany and Italy the dates are the same...)


    Then... How do they chose the "Euro", the "America" and the "Africa" teams? According to the ranking, to the continental championship, to the continental qualification tournament..?



    BTW, Japan, so many free opportunities to be in the Olympics, and they aren't even able to be in top 4 of Asian Championship :mad:



    And last, help me understand italian chances to qualificate:


    - World Cup (that's gonna be really tough) [3 places]


    - Continental Tournament in Bulgaria ( :?: ) [1 place, right? And many others european teams that will fight for it...]


    - World torunament in Italy (last chance) [1 place]



    It seems easier won the WCh than qualificate for the Olympics :lol: