The Olympic Games in Beijing - Elimination Round

    Quote from gael alexei philippe

    They upset, Poland, Italy and now Cuba. And speaking of dreams, Bown and Scott-Arruda can leave the NT with the medals they longed for all those years.


    I dont think the US upset Poland. But i got your point. They are almost of the same level. :)


    Thats what i thought also, even though the odds are way on Brazil's side, a silver is still a medal...you have the chance once every four years. Its now or never.


    Id be happy to see the soon-to-be retirees Bown and Scott wearing atleast a medal and on the podium. Plus their silver in 2002 World Champs.


    Thats what they have longed eversince that defeat to Cuba in the semis in Sydney. Now atleast they did some sweet revenge.


    Logan Tom will play the most important role for the US in this finals. If she performs the way she did against Cuba (Digging, Serving, Blocking),..

    "[size=8]It's years and years of work and sacrifice and dedication. Along with a lot of these girls, we've sweat and we've bled and we've cried together in past Olympics. It just brought tears to my eyes, & I'm more than thrilled. This will be forever." -LOGAN MAILE LEI TOM (Silver Medallist - 2008 Beijing & 2012 London Olympic Games, 2011 World Cup runner up, 2003 & 2007 World Cup 3rd place, 2002 World Champs runner up, 4-time World GrandPrix Champs)

    Quote from jist


    I dont think the US upset Poland. But i got your point. They are almost of the same level. :)


    That's very nice of you, that you consider team whose greatest succes in OG was beating Venezuela, and team which is going to play for gold, as a teams on the same level :D

    The most important 3:
    POLAND-SZCZECIN-VOLLEYBALL


    5th place - Prediction Game - World League 2011 :D

    Quote from Konrad


    That's very nice of you, that you consider team whose greatest succes in OG was beating Venezuela, and team which is going to play for gold, as a teams on the same level :D


    Poland is a team who has the potential. But i think the coaches didn't capitalize on that. They are almost the same with USA..the height, the play..but Lang Ping knew how to mix and match. So thats how i see it. :thumbup: Proof to that was their 5-set match.

    "[size=8]It's years and years of work and sacrifice and dedication. Along with a lot of these girls, we've sweat and we've bled and we've cried together in past Olympics. It just brought tears to my eyes, & I'm more than thrilled. This will be forever." -LOGAN MAILE LEI TOM (Silver Medallist - 2008 Beijing & 2012 London Olympic Games, 2011 World Cup runner up, 2003 & 2007 World Cup 3rd place, 2002 World Champs runner up, 4-time World GrandPrix Champs)

    Just for the sake of curiosity, tomorrow is Mári's birthday!!!!


    I think everyone knows what she wants as a birthday present! LOL!

    Quote from Celso

    Just for the sake of curiosity, tomorrow is Mári's birthday!!!!


    I think everyone knows what she wants as a birthday present! LOL!

    uh really? hmm i can name many situations where an athlete lost on his bday :D
    Happens quite often...... :whistle:


    But anyway, if nothing goes wrong the brasilian team should win. Besides that i think that the american girls are more tired. But all they need is a good start to make the samba girls insecure ;)


    im really excited

    i just hope the final match wont be 3-sets. i'm little bit disapointed about the level of OG the only one team who prepare really well to this turnament is Brazil . others team has ups and downs . the biggest disapointing is Russia and Poland and Italy overall European teams unfortunatly . i'm rooting for USA but i dont want USA win every 4 volleyball competitions so guys from Brazil need to win :) but to be honest Brazil girls really deserve this title and it will be great ending of Fofao career

    Quote from Celso

    Just for the sake of curiosity, tomorrow is Mári's birthday!!!!


    I think everyone knows what she wants as a birthday present! LOL!

    well they usually dont get that dream present on their bday. eg Glinka had b day on ECH final and she did not get any medal...


    Anyone can support a team that is winning - it takes no courage. But to
    stand behind a team to defend a team when it is down and really needs
    you, that takes a lot of courage.

    I know it will be tough, and I know US team showed its value and they will be a hard team to beat, but I hope tomorrow I could celebrate something else besides Mári's birthday!


    Nastja,


    I just pray everyday that you keep on rooting against Brazil! It brings luck to our girls! Please, cheer for USA with all your forces tomorrow, I beg you. :lol:



    Mateo,


    Poland didn't even qualify to the final match of the European Championship! So, Glinka's birthday was not decisive at all in Poland's final ranking :whistle:

    yes but before semis she dream of Gold as a b day present when she lost it she dream of bronze. she didint get any


    Anyone can support a team that is winning - it takes no courage. But to
    stand behind a team to defend a team when it is down and really needs
    you, that takes a lot of courage.

    That was Glika's problem, she started to dream too early!


    Luckily Mari's case is totally different. She is still allowed to see her dream of Gold coming true and this is the expected thing to happen, unless a tragedy occurs.

    im almost sure she will get what she want :) and not only gold medal but i think she will get some award maybe MVP one?? naa it is booked for Fofao :whistle:


    Anyone can support a team that is winning - it takes no courage. But to
    stand behind a team to defend a team when it is down and really needs
    you, that takes a lot of courage.

    I hope you're right!!!! :)


    This anxiety is killing me!!!!

    aaaannddd another terrible performance by Cuba :woohoo: :whistle: China with bronze :cup: they were better team today by who wont be against Cuba playing like that.i wonder what happened to that girls. they couldnt loose their great shape within 4 days.they playing dramatic bad with tons of errors. in those 2 matches their service was awful.
    congratz for China they still one of the best team . maybe the beginning of OG wasnt good for them but they improved every matche and show some great volleyball :thumbup:


    Anyone can support a team that is winning - it takes no courage. But to
    stand behind a team to defend a team when it is down and really needs
    you, that takes a lot of courage.

    congratulations to china for winning the bronze. it's so sad seeing the cuban girls lost. they committed a lot of mistakes in receptions, setting and defense. good luck yumilka! i understand this is her last OG, am i right?

    Congrats China for winning the bronze! :cup:

    As for Cuba, they need to play focus to avoid errors, the passing, the setting and mostly in their back row defense are weak plus the girls commit a lot of mental lapses. That canceled out their very strong blocks and spikes. They have strong service but prone to service errors. I am thinking that they should dump their 6-2 format and use one setter instead, hmmmm just a thought.

    I am rooting for USA today even though I like Brazil also.


    I have this hopeful feeling that the USA can beat Brazil in the gold medal match. Brazil, though invincible in going to this point of the tournament, didn't have a tough matches in getting the finals. It works as a disadvantage for them psychologically. Sometimes, a team should also learn to play catching up other than maintaining a lead. The two scenarios are different mind sets when playing volleyball. The USA plays catching up in most of their matches while Brazil plays the lead and dominates most of the time. What if the USA put up an early lead (say winning the first set and leads second), that could put a big pressure on Brazilian side. If the American ladies put up a BIG opening set against Brazil and never let go from there, they might have a chance.

    So, China won the bronze! :thumbup:
    And Cuba made lots of mistakes. I'm surprised. :roll:


    I'm really excited about USA-Brazil today. Let's hope it'll be an entertaining match. :)

    It's so funny to have both finals (M and F) Brazil x USA :P
    Anyway, I think that if USA doesn't play very very very well, they don't have many chances. I thought they wouldn't beat both Italy and Cuba, it made me surprised! But in the end they did and now they are on the finals.
    This OG surprised me for the lack of quality, since the best teams were there I thought its quality would be better, but I was wrong. Even WGP seemed interesting if compared to many of these matches...


    So, soon we'll know who's the new olympic champion :) And I hope it's a great match, these 3-0 are not funny anymore :whistle: