2012 Olympic Games

I tend to consider this as the final distribution because it was the same way/system back in 2008 in Beijing. The places of Poland and USA were reverse back then, the distribution was otherwise the same. The big question mark in Pool B is how prepared Germany will be this time as 4 years ago they couldn't make it to the 1/4-finals. This year I am sure they will place higher, maybe they can surprise both USA and Serbia. In Pool A the four favourites were drawn together for last year's WL final round pool. I doubt Australia will have something to say in this pool, but we'll see. What makes me eager here are two things - first, how Argentina will appear in London, in other words, are they ready to finally beat Poland and dream of medals, second, of course, who will coach/play for Bulgaria this summer, there are still important decisions to be made and our whole Olympic performance may depend on that, even if we are quite deservedly not among the medal favourites.

Please do not underestimate Australia. They are able to surprise us in one match against very strong team !
Germany performance depends mostly on Grozer and ... in case he will be blocked Germany will be "blocked".
Argentina, Serbia and USA - question marks - we will see at World League what is their present "volleyball's level" ?

Quote from YavorD

I tend to consider this as the final distribution because it was the same way/system back in 2008 in Beijing. The places of Poland and USA were reverse back then, the distribution was otherwise the same. The big question mark in Pool B is how prepared Germany will be this time as 4 years ago they couldn't make it to the 1/4-finals. This year I am sure they will place higher, maybe they can surprise both USA and Serbia. In Pool A the four favourites were drawn together for last year's WL final round pool. I doubt Australia will have something to say in this pool, but we'll see. What makes me eager here are two things - first, how Argentina will appear in London, in other words, are they ready to finally beat Poland and dream of medals, second, of course, who will coach/play for Bulgaria this summer, there are still important decisions to be made and our whole Olympic performance may depend on that, even if we are quite deservedly not among the medal favourites.

If we have full team with Matey Kaziyski will be very probable semifinal for us, but if nothing changes in Bulgaria, even a quarterfinal will be huge accomplishment

I like our group We have the potential to beat everyone. Poland will be the hardest for us for sure, but I get a feeling that this year will be the year we break the polish curse. I doubt Australia can make it to QF, though they will win sets now and then unlike Britain.

What is the scheme for the quaterfinals?

1A x 4B, 2A x 3B, 3A x 2B, 4A x 1B or something else?

A friend told me that 1a plays with 4b and reverse, but the 2nd and 3rd teams are determined by a draw lot, so 2A can play vs. 2B.

The groups are exactly like WL Finals 2011, when Poland, Bulgaria, Italy and Argentina were in the same group and USA, Russia, Brazil and Cuba(now Germany) in the other.

From the recent condition of the teams I expect a good performance by Germany, they are not all Grozer in my opinion. You can't say such things. Both Serbia and USA are weaker and they'll fight for 4th place. They might be surprises(both teams raise up their levels for the Olympics, according to Serbian mentallity and American Olympic mindset) but I think they will be a good present for the team from the other group who will face them in 1/4 finals.

In the other group, Italy are favourites, IMO. Argentina are a full enigma. Poland and Bulgaria are shaky. I expect something like: Poland beats Argentina, Argentina beats Bulgaria, Bulgaria beats Italy. Italy beats Poland, etc. The group seems easier, no Russia, no Brazil, but Group A is with very equal teams.

Pools are officially confirmed :
http://www.fivb.org/viewPressR….asp?No=35199&Language=en

Awesome, thanks

Is there any standard format for the order that the pool games are played in? I heard A1vA2, B1vB2, A3vA4 on the first day and so on, mentioned… Sounds consistent with some reports I've heard, but what about previous tournaments?

British Olympic Games

http://www.fivb.org/viewPressR….asp?No=35388&Language=en

Will someone record the matches?

Quote from MattGTFour

http://www.fivb.org/viewPressR….asp?No=35388&Language=en

1,5hour for a match? Hmm no question there will be delays...

Opponents for Poland are sequentially Italy, Bulgaria, Argentina, British and Australia, seemingly from strong to weak. I don't think it's a comfortable schedule for Poland. Apart from difficult beginning, two weak teams in the end won't contribute to their status in quarterfinal.

Quote from volleystella

1,5hour for a match? Hmm no question there will be delays...

I agree, it's a tight schedule, but there are decent gaps between alternate matches

I suppose "at night"

Quote from muse

Why they made this schedule with specified time of matches? Brazil plays almost always at 9 pm, who knows, if the matches end later, than 1,5 hour they will have to play at night or at the next day?

they don't play the next day but the day after: one day women, one day men, one women, one men....and so on. So they will have at least 24 hours to recover!

Quote from muse

Why they made this schedule with specified time of matches? Brazil plays almost always at 9 pm, who knows, if the matches end later, than 1,5 hour they will have to play at night or at the next day?

Probably they will play through the night to the next day in some of the matches. But it doesn't matter that much cause they still have one day for a rest. BTW: There is a typo in the schedule where the teams involved with the fourth match of the second round are not USA&ARG, but USA&GER.Maybe you can make a re-edit.