Cuban 12 for WCH:
Setters: Leandro Macias, Ricardo Calvo Manzano
Opposites: Rolando Cepeda (also OH), Livan Osoria (also MB)
Outside Hitters: Osmany Uriarte, Javier Jimenez, Abrahan Alfonso, Inovel Romero
Middle Blockers: Isbel Mesa, David Fiel, Felix Chapman
Libero: Keibel Gutierrez
So it's team from Pan-Am Cup with only change for backup S - Yosvani Gonzalez is replaced by Ricardo Manzano.
Overall team looks poorly, but it's because of country's polcy 
U.S. Roster for the FIVB World Championship
1. Matt Anderson
3. Taylor Sander
4. David Lee [C]
6. Paul Lotman
7. Kawika Shoji
10. Tony Ciarelli
11. Micah Christenson
15. Carson Clark
17. Max Holt
18. Garrett Muagututia
19. Alfee Reft
20. David Smith
21. Nick Vogel
22. Erik Shoji
U.S. Roster for the FIVB World Championship:
S: Micah Christenson, Kawika Shoji
OP: Matthew Anderson (also OH), Carson Clark
OH: Taylor Sander, Paul Lotman, Antonio Ciarelli, Garrett Muagututia
MB: David Lee (C), Maxwell Holt, David Smith, Nicholas Vogel (also OP)
L: Erik Shoji, Alfredo Reft
so no Sean Rooney (OH) who played whole WL, no Russell Holmes (MB), no William Priddy (OH), no Clayton Stanley (OP), no Murphy Troy (OP) and no Vaafuti Tavana (MB) from these who played more or less in NT last times...
meanwhile Ciarelli is back, I don't think that Reft will play a bit, maybe with a weaker team in pool
new player in team is Nick Vogel 
there are rosters on WCH site 
The oddest news of the day: the two trophies of the next WCH were stolen in Rio this afternoon.
FIVB WCh trophies, both men and women were stolen today in Rio!!!!! 
The trophies were making a tour around the world, and were inside a security van on their way to CBV when were stolen, the police have no idea where they are right now! 
Understandable.
After the failure of the soccer team, they want to keep the tropphy in the country by all means 
Iran roster for WCH
Setters: Marouf, Mahdavi
MBs: Mousavi, Gholami, Tashakkori,Faezi
OHs: Ghaemi, Mirzajanpour, Fayyazi, Ebadipour
OPs: Mahmoudi, Ghafour
Liberos: Zarif, Alizadeh
FIVB WCh trophies, both men and women were stolen today in Rio!!!!!
The trophies were making a tour around the world, and were inside a security van on their way to CBV when were stolen, the police have no idea where they are right now!
That's not the way to win, guys and girls 
Iran roster for WCH
Setters: Marouf, Mahdavi
MBs: Mousavi, Gholami, Tashakkori,Faezi
OHs: Ghaemi, Mirzajanpour, Fayyazi, Ebadipour
OPs: Mahmoudi, Ghafour
Liberos: Zarif, Alizadeh
This squad is basically the one Kovac has been using at WL. Kovac may consider to let Tashakkori start instead of Gholami. Gholami is agile and a good morale booster, but he gets blocked quite often due to his height. Tashakkori is relatively balanced in all aspects, with his tricky jump floats being quite effective. OH has been a not-so-strong link for the team. Ghaemi is a good passer and a courageous warrior, but lacks absolute strength. Mirzajanpour is strong in offense, but needs to improve his stability and back row skills. Ebadipour's reception is quite impressive as a young player. As for OPP, Mahmoudi's style of play is very spectacular -- witty, skillful, and varied in power. Unfortunately, his injury during WL seems to matter a lot till now. What's good is that Ghafour has stepped up and filled the OPP role pretty well.
It is going to be extremely difficult for Group A and D teams. Only 4 of Poland,Argentina,Serbia, Australia,Italy,USA,France and Belgium are going to survive but it won't be enough if they can't avoid Russia and Brazil. 
It is also the first tournament Italy couldn't get lucky draw in Berruto era. Considering their luck, expect abnormal results or unexpected injuries for other teams
It is going to be extremely difficult for Group A and D teams. Only 4 of Poland,Argentina,Serbia, Australia,Italy,USA,France and Belgium are going to survive but it won't be enough if they can't avoid Russia and Brazil.
It is also the first tournament Italy couldn't get lucky draw in Berruto era. Considering their luck, expect abnormal results or unexpected injuries for other teams
I don't see any chances for Belgium or France to get survive instead of Iran.
I don't see any chances for Belgium or France to get survive instead of Iran.
Yes, of course! I forgot to write their name 
Here is my ranking system by Group with the point value included
The points are based on matches played, sets won, points ratio, difficulty of competition and regional strength in international matches
Group A
Serbia 5, 323.521
Poland 6, 320.841
Argentina 12, 255.778
Australia 19, 154.935
Cameroon 34, 54.255
Venezuela 62, 24.684
Group B
Brazil 2, 417.864
Germany 9, 284.837
Cuba 11, 261.427
Finland 15, 232.770
Korea 17, 180.769
Tunisia 28, 77.995
Group C
Russia 1, 428.415
Bulgaria 8, 285.732
Canada 14, 234.216
China 22, 129.248
Egypt 26, 80.459
Mexico 32, 57.295
Group D
Italy 3, 383.789
USA 4, 383.548
France 7, 306.977
Iran 10, 261.491
Belgium 18, 167.285
Puerto Rico 24, 98.040
My Expectations for the Group Finishes
Group A
Serbia
Poland
Australia
Argentina
Cameroon
Venezuela
Group B
Brazil
Cuba
Germany
Korea
Finland
Tunisia
Group C
Russia
Canada
Bulgaria
China
Egypt
Mexico
Group D
USA
Italy
Iran
France
Belgium
Puerto Rico
Instead of WCH Trophy the Winner in Men's category will get Przedpełski's pink trousers.
I don't know what will get the Winner in Italy.
I don't see any chances for Belgium or France to get survive instead of Iran.
Thats a tough call.......
At least France i see, more or less, on same level as Iran. Add their higher experience for that kind of tournament and i can see a very hard time for Iran getting out of their preliminary group.
Canadian 14 for WCH:
Setters: Dustin Schneider, Taylor Sanders
Opposites: Gavin Schmitt, Dallas Soonias
Outside Hitters: Frederic Winters, John Gordon Perrin, Toontje Van Lankvelt, Nicholas Hoag
Middle Blcokers: Adam Simac, Justin Duff, Rudy Verhoeff (also OH), Graham Vigrass
Liberos: Daniel Lewis, Steven Marshall (also OH)
Ciaran Mc Govern (S), Jason Derocco (OH), Jay Blankenau (S) from WL are out.
I guess that Joshua Howatson (S) and Blair Bann (L) had been cut before because both weren't in WL match rosters.
Anyway Hoag tested so many players for S position...
Canadians are in Poland and played little training games with Polish NT. Coaches divided their teams into 2 line-ups, the teams waere mixed so we can't call them as pure main A lin-eups and B line-ups with backups
Poland A - Canada A 3-0
POL: Drzyzga - Mika - Nowakowski - Konarski - Kubiak - Kłos - Ignaczak (L)
CAN: Sanders - Winters - Simac - Soonias - Van Lankvelt - Verhoeff - Marshall (L)
Poland B - Canada B 1-2
POL: Zagumny - Buszek - Wrona - Wlazły - Winiarski - Możdżonek - Zatorski (L)
CAN: Schneider - Perrin - Vigrass - Schmitt - Hoag - Verhoeff - Lewis (L)
there's no exact scores of each set and no stats, it was rather like school games
I haven't watched Canada that much this year and I can't talk about their setters' form, neither can I know how Joshua Howatson has been doing lately, but to me he is by far the best Canadian setter in recent years. I would take him even in bad sports form instead of, for example, Dustin Schneider.
I haven't watched Canada that much this year and I can't talk about their setters' form, neither can I know how Joshua Howatson has been doing lately, but to me he is by far the best Canadian setter in recent years. I would take him even in bad sports form instead of, for example, Dustin Schneider.
If Canada have better setter they would be world class team. I think Howatson is out due bad season in Turkey (dunno clubs name) but still was starter unlike Schneider. Dustin's biggest "problem" is height, he is good spot to attack over. IMO the biggest problem for Hoag but Howatson should be among 14 players for WCH. Sanders is big questionmark, played few matches in WL but in general he can improve Canada's game.
Btw. Howatson played on Pan Am Cup, disappointing performance..
Vlado Nikolov is out from the Bulgarian NT.
So for now is:
S: Zhekov, Dimitrov
OP: Sokolov, Milushev
OH: Aleksiev, Skrimov, Penchev, Gradinarov
MB: Todorov, Yosifov, N.Nikolov, Gotsev
L: Salparov, Bozhilov
But the final roster will be announced on thursday.