Olympic Games - 2016 | 8 | 6

    Brazil will play with full fans and it will be difficult for their opponent. Remember Italy beat Usa in 2014 World Championship because they were host. Kiraly is a smart coach and I think he will change his tactic for gold medals. China, Serbia and Russia are strong team but Brazil can beat them and I think expext USA, other teams can't beat Brazil because they have no enough power to do it in Rio. About Usa I think Kiraly will change something about tactic and he can keep Lowe on court too. I still think Lowe is better than Murphy and about other players of USA are okay. I hope this year we will see new champion of Olimpic Game.

    With WGP behind us and the OG just 4 weeks ago I am going to dare some predicitions...


    First of all, I think there will be very balanced and close games, because there are 9 teams (except ARG, PUR and CMR) on a good level that can all beat one another. Missing one player due to injury or one player having a bad day can change everything for one team already...
    However, for me there are 5 main contenders for the medals (and that means ANY medal), namely (in no particular order) Brazil, Russia, China, USA and Serbia.


    Brazil after a rather weak preliminary in WGP showed in the final round that they're always a top team. Their advantage is that they are the most experienced team and playing together with the same line-up for many years. The problem is that some players might be past their prime and on some positions they also have no good back-ups. Playing at home can be both a blessing and a curse.


    Russia should never be underestimated, but they will need their full roster (i.e. including Kosheleva) to be competitive. Their game is not as "attractive" as that of most other teams, but still they have very good players and usually come well prepared to the big events. On a good day they have the ability to beat every team.


    China has a good mix of youth and experience and of technical skills and physical features, plus a very good coach. The problem I see for them is that they don't seem to have found their starting six yet and there still are many ups and downs in their performance. If Lang Ping can sort these things out, China will be VERY strong.


    USA is the current World Champion, so of course they are among the favourites. WGP showed their strengths and weaknesses and I am sure Karch will be working very hard on the weaknesses. Their system doesn't always work 100%, but then it also doesn't have to, it just needs to work good enough to win.


    Serbia is a physically intimidating team, tall and powerful, with a great brain on the setter position. Like Brazil, many of the Serbian players have been playing together for a long time. Their problem is that they have a very wide range of performances, they can play very great but also very awful.


    As for the other teams, Japan and Korea are quite unpredictable for me. Japan hasn't played all summer with their final Olympic team so it is impossible to assess their current shape. So far they haven't been too convincing this year, but OG is a different story. Korea as we all know depends very much on KYK, with her on fire they are a very dangerous opponent for everyone. Those two teams because of the pool distribution basically have a free ride to QF and I doubt that they will go further than that, but as I wrote above, almost all teams can beat each other.
    Italy and the Netherlands should be playing for the last spot in QF. Here I trust in Guidetti preparing his team perfectly, but they are very fragile. One injury and it can all break down...As for Italy, Bonitta has far exceeded expectations in terms of being successful with the player choices he made. The question will be how the youngsters will cope with the pressure in OG and how big a role the lack of experience will play for them.

    I am really trying to understand what will be Thompson's role in the team, but I just can't.. Karch is using the double sub every set, so that leaves you with 2 subs. And it usually is Robinson for Hill to pass, so no place for Cortney. I would even understand taking a 4th MB since Christa is injury prone, and Adams is not always the most reliable hitter.. Easy not making the team, leaves the USA with only 3 OHs, none of which is a great scorer.. If taking Bartich was not an option because the lack of her experience, then maybe Fawcett as 3rd OPP would be more useful since she can be tried as OH in the worst cases..Iw would even take Hagglund as second libero, or a defensive specialist, although she is not the best of passers she can make some briliant digs.. But really, I have no explanation for 3 setters in 12 person team.. I have nothing against Thompson really, but I would say even her place in London was a surprise for me since the only thing she was better than Alisha was serving.. However I will try believing in Karch and staying positive about Rio

    Quote from LLOYD

    Brazil will play with full fans and it will be difficult for their opponent. Remember Italy beat Usa in 2014 World Championship because they were host. Kiraly is a smart coach and I think he will change his tactic for gold medals. China, Serbia and Russia are strong team but Brazil can beat them and I think expext USA, other teams can't beat Brazil because they have no enough power to do it in Rio. About Usa I think Kiraly will change something about tactic and he can keep Lowe on court too. I still think Lowe is better than Murphy and about other players of USA are okay. I hope this year we will see new champion of Olimpic Game.


    For Brazil playing at home is disavantage ... all the Brazilains players and Ze Roberto has said that many times alreday.


    I read someone saying Jaqueline even asked for none of her family members go to the arena to watch any game. She wants to feel like she`s playing somewhere else.


    In this interview Thaissa talks about that, she asked for the support and "love" and "care" for the fans, because when they are winning they get the support, but when they are loosing the fans will even "booo" them ...


    http://saidaderede.blogosfera.…-sao-o-time-a-ser-batido/


    Did u watch the Soccer World Cup? Brazil lost because there were so much pressure on them....people started to "boo" them, cheer for Germany and started to leave the studim before the game was over...

    Matthias I agree with everything you said....just about Brazil not having good back-ups I dissagre, the problem is that Ze Roberto never give the chances for anybody to play..for the past few years it has been only Sheilla,Jaque,Garay,Thaisa,Fabiana,Dani in the starting 6, and does matter if was the OG or just a Friendly match. Just look at this GP he had the same starting line up almost every single match, Juciely the best blocker of last year GP barely played. Tandara got to start only 1 match I think...Gabi was only a sub and even had to play as OP, same as Adenizia.
    Nobody was given chances. and he has done that since the day he found out the OG were gonna be in RIO> He only cared about his 7 main players,,,,

    Quote from USAvolleyfan

    I am really trying to understand what will be Thompson's role in the team, but I just can't.. Karch is using the double sub every set, so that leaves you with 2 subs. And it usually is Robinson for Hill to pass, so no place for Cortney.

    I noticed in WGP that USA had two different line-ups: when Hill was starting as OH, Adams would start as MB and the sub would be Robinson for Hill in backrow. The other option was Harmotto as MB instead of Adams and Robinson as OH instead of Hill, with this line-up Thompson would enter for serve for Harmotto once per set.

    Quote from Matthias

    I noticed in WGP that USA had two different line-ups: when Hill was starting as OH, Adams would start as MB and the sub would be Robinson for Hill in backrow. The other option was Harmotto as MB instead of Adams and Robinson as OH instead of Hill, with this line-up Thompson would enter for serve for Harmotto once per set.


    Yeap, I have noticed that too.. and I don't think Thompson serving was that much of an advantage for them since I can't remember when did she serve more than twice in a row. Also I think Hill will be the starter since Kelsey was pretty weak in attack

    I also forgot.. I am so happy to see Lloyd making the Olympic roster, after not playing any major tournaments for the USA.. She for sure has the quality, and I am glad she finally got used to this system...who would have thought she will make it, and someone like Kreklow will get cut

    Quote from rbdfabio


    Did u watch the Soccer World Cup? Brazil lost because there were so much pressure on them....people started to "boo" them, cheer for Germany and started to leave the studim before the game was over...


    uh... no. BRA did not lose at the WC because of pressure. they lost cuz they were awful and GER were awesome. 7-2 was not because of nerves.

    Quote from USAvolleyfan

    Now USA volleyball posted this on their Instagram account: Who will Karch Kiraly select for the Olympic roster? Find out Tuesday morning at approximately 8 am PT


    What does this mean? I thought they already revealed their roster


    Easy was injured, so if she's healthy, she was also an option. Plus, they flew from Bangkok back on Monday. So, if you've never flown from Southeast Asia to Los Angeles, you do the full loop of the Pacific Ocean. Bangkok to Tokyo or Taipei (or somewhere in North East Asia) to LA. Long day just to get back. From looking at google flights, the earliest arrival would be about noon. Then the team has to get to Anaheim. They may have told the players after arriving at the facility on Monday. But no official press release until today.

    Quote from brahmin

    Easy was injured, so if she's healthy, she was also an option. Plus, they flew from Bangkok back on Monday. So, if you've never flown from Southeast Asia to Los Angeles, you do the full loop of the Pacific Ocean. Bangkok to Tokyo or Taipei (or somewhere in North East Asia) to LA. Long day just to get back. From looking at google flights, the earliest arrival would be about noon. Then the team has to get to Anaheim. They may have told the players after arriving at the facility on Monday. But no official press release until today.


    My point was, USA already announced their roster.. It's even posted in this thread. Or you are saying it was not official?

    Isn't there any other good passing OH in Netherlands? I mean, there is only Grotheus and the second libero there...I don't think Meijners' passing is worst than Buijs' and Plak's.

    There are some decent passing OHs out there but they actually never proved themselves in an international tournament and I don't think they'd play better than Buijs and Plak anyway.
    I also find Floortje's reception a bit more stable than those whom you mentioned about but we all know the behind story ;)


    I feel sorry for Knip and Koolhaas, they probably knew they would be the last ones going home, despite that they tried their best to show them up. Both of them obviously will be called by Guidetti next year owing to retirement or Steenbergen and Stam.