Olympic Games - Brazil 2016 (qualification process)

  • Volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament


    The competition consists of two stages; a group stage followed by a knockout stage.


    Group stage


    Teams are divided into two groups of SIX countries, playing every team in their group once. The teams get three points for a 3–0 or 3–1 win, two points for a 3–2 win, one poin for a 2–3 loss and 0 points for a 1–3 or 0–3 loss. TOP FOUR teams per group qualify for the QUARTER-FINALS.


    Group A
    1 Brazil
    2 Russia
    3 Japan
    4 South Korea
    5 Argentina
    6 Cameroon



    Group B
    1 United States
    2 China
    3 Serbia
    4 Italy
    5 Netherlands
    6 Team B6 (whatever the survival of a qualification in Puerto Rico)


    In Group B, ITA will have the fierce dogfight again versus NED to accompany USA CHN SRB to QF.



    First match(es) of both groups will be played on 6 August 2016.
    Rules for classification: 1) Matches won; 2) Points; 3) Set ratio; 4) Setpoint ratio; 5) Head-to-head record. (wiki)


    “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

    Edited 4 times, last by samsara ().

  • Although there are two matches left, the hosts need just to take one set (at most) against feeble Kenia, to get the last ticket to Rio after their clear victory against Colombia. Because Puerto Rico is better in the world ranking than Cameroon, the two groups in Rio will now be:


    Group A


    Brazil (host/3.)
    Russia (4.)
    Japan (5.)
    South Korea (9.)
    Argentina (12.)
    Cameroon (21.)



    Group B


    USA (1.)
    China (2.)
    Serbia (6.)
    Italy (8.)
    Netherlands (14.)
    Puerto Rico (16.)



    Because Colombia is behind Cameroon in the ranking, their participation would have been swapped group with Cameroon by the way.

  • Due to Olympic rules hosts (Brazil) and at least one team from every continental federation (Cameroon from Africa) has to be within the Games.


    The world ranking is somewaht tilted by the way too, because it is not taking into account the different strenthgs of the continental federations neither regarding the best nor the following up teams. And also no points are given due to strengths of rivals defeated as some other sports do.


    Even due to world ranking the outcome was not fair anyway: if you count the first 11 national teams of world ranking (Africa gets a berth without being under the first 12), result is as follows:


    CEV/Europe: 5 teams (Russia, Serbia, Italy, Turkey, Germany)
    Asia: 3 teams (China, Japan, South Korea)
    NORCECA: 2 teams (USA, Dominican Republic)
    South America: 1 team (Brazil)
    Africa: 0 teams (though overrated!)


    Qualfied are:


    CEV/Europe: 4 teams (Russia, Serbia, Italy, Netherlands)
    Asia: 3 teams (China, Japan, South Korea)
    NORCECA: 2 teams (USA, Puerto Rico)
    South America: 2 teams (Brazil, Argentina)
    Africa : 1 team (Cameroon)


    So aside from assigned one berth to Africa, the tilt is currently as often Europe vs. South America, could have been also North America by the way.


    Netherlands are currently underrated by the ranking, because it counts many years and they improved considerably the last year in their performance. So it is okay, that they are qualified, but that neither Turkey nor Germany are, isn't. Asia fits interestingly despite the complicated qualification process with different steps, so Thailand was just behind (South Korea) as fourth Asian team. NORCECA is questionable, because even with the weak performance displayed by Dominican Republic, they were better in early qualification process than Puerto Rico, so only the number is okay. South America was an easy prey for Argentina especially because Brazil are hosts, but this national team is just one place behind the first eleven.

  • Due to that comparison I guess, there would be a much more fair system possible, but due to the strong influence of NORCECA and South America federations (and partly also Asia, but this doesn't matter in this regard much as described) and the minor influence of the CEV (disliked by FIVB) it will never happen:


    Africa gets one berth (maybe even the current Africa champion).


    NORCECA and South America get their continental winners (or champions, would be easier).
    Than a pool of two teams each behind those winners from NORCECA and South America is created, winner gets another Olympic ticket. Than 1+1+1 tickets are assigned to both together.


    Asia plays with four to five teams the three tickets they should get anyway (like now).


    Europe gets five tickets (currently), easiest current European Champion and four more teams (eight teams qualification, the best four qualify).


    If World Cup still counts (first two places) and the host is set, they should be subtracted from above assignments, because otherwise those steps will also tilt the relations between federations.

  • Porto Rico in 2014 eliminated Netherlands in the WGP division II semifinal. They're not such a weak team you say, guys!


    Their level is growning year by year. All they need now is having their best players abroad. They have high level players IMHO. Go PR! :super:

  • When you see that teams like Turkey, Germany, Thai are not going to Rio because of PR :whistle: :whistle: ..Than that is ridiculous.

  • Well, because it's Olympics. No specific continents take an advantage. But I find PUERTO RICO (Is it Puer, right? Porto is Italian.) mediocre, so are Colombia and Kenya. Regardless of whichever qualifies, they will be considered as a point machine.


    Dutch national anthem is so beautiful...I hope the dutchies crush Japan down tonight. Let's go oranges!

  • Porto Rico in 2014 eliminated Netherlands in the WGP division II semifinal. They're not such a weak team you say, guys!


    Their level is growning year by year. All they need now is having their best players abroad. They have high level players IMHO. Go PR! :super:


    I have not claimed, they wood be bad, really they dominate that minor tournament on Puerto Rico clearly. By the way, 2014 Netherlands had not reached the current level, since 2015 Giovanni Guidetti took over and they improved a lot in that time.

  • Plak and Buijs at reception line...I wonder how many serve points they will give to Japan.

  • Well, because it's Olympics. No specific continents take an advantage. But I find PUERTO RICO (Is it Puer, right? Porto is Italian.) mediocre, so are Colombia and Kenya. Regardless of whichever qualifies, they will be considered as a point machine.


    Dutch national anthem is so beautiful...I hope the dutchies crush Japan down tonight. Let's go oranges!


    One thing is for sure: the only African team, Cameroon, will not win anything, they are by far the worst team qualified for Olympics. How Puerto Rico performs, we will see, but it is never easy, if you have all the best teams of the world in both groups, and for Puerto Rico the group B will be mission impossible, I guess. There are no weak teams at all.

  • One thing is for sure: the only African team, Cameroon, will not win anything, they are by far the worst team qualified for Olympics. How Puerto Rico performs, we will see, but it is never easy, if you have all the best teams of the world in both groups, and for Puerto Rico the group B will be mission impossible, I guess. There are no weak teams at all.


    Yes, the group B is hell of a group, I presume USA, China, Serbia and Holland will qualify and Italy shall end up at the 5th.

  • It's incredible how fast Slöetjes has turned into an unstoppable hitter from being just a good player. Despite the massive shoulder injury that totally disturbed her career she managed to find her best shape and now she has a wider view of the opponent's court.

  • The one thing this Dutch team is missing is a really good libero. Stam isn't doing a bad job, but especially in defense she's just not on the same level as the "real" liberos in this tournament.


    As much as I love Debby, I agree. I hope Giovanni gives a chance to Myrthe, at least she's more dynamic than Debby in defense, although I'm not quite sure how far her recovery went. Kirsten Knip is also there, but as a defense specialist.

  • Why recovery? Schoot has played the full season in Dresden once she recovered, i.e. since January, so nothing wrong since then. And I don't think she's much more dynamic than Stam in defense, plus she's much less stable in reception.

  • TOTAL collpase by NED.
    They are playing simply awful right now.