1996 Olympic final Italy - The Netherlands
(I guess this match deserves a seperate thread)
For the 4th consecutive time, both teams stand eye to eye in a major event's final (EC93, WC94, EC95).
Until that moment, the Italians always won.
Both teams met a few weeks earlier in Rotterdam in the world league final where the Dutch finally managed to win in a tough 5 setter.
The Italians had their revenge in the Olympic preliminary round and swept the Dutch in a clear 3-0 victory (8-15,8-15,13-15).
Throughout the tournament, both teams dominate all other participants on their road to the final to meet once again.
(tournament results: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/O…omerspelen_1996/Volleybal)
In the Netherlands, this game was elected as sports event of the century.
set 1: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V6M1YIXH
set 2: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XA5PE02Z
set 3: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CNXPI95G
set 4: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZZ582FK1
set 5: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=F5WM4HCN
p.s.1: Wonder how these teams would compete against, say, the current Brazilian team.
p.s.2: during the 1996 Olympics, a number of events was broadcasted in 2 formats simultaneously: the traditional 4/3 TV-format and the 16/9 format.
I taped this game from a French broadcaster that was distributing the 16/9-format footage.
(Unfortunately, the French commentator gets on your nerves after a while)