2018 FIVB World Championship - Japan

Quote from VolleyOrange

I don't agree with this. Of course Anne Buijs is not world best receiver BUT:

She has the image that her pass is not good and every opponent knows it, so in total they tried to serve on her for 157 times this tournament. Only Bricio got more serves to handle (163). Buijs' is still ranked 38th, all according to FIVB statistics. (http://japan2018.fivb.com/en/competition/statistics)

Besides the Anne Buijs thing, NED is missing De Kruijf and Daalderop really but I still believe they can surprise us.. we will see

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I'd like to think that this NED team can still be better too. I know De Krujif is out because of injury. What happened to Pietersen and Daalderop though? And Pilon-Stam did she retire?

Quote from sandianando

I don't know what happened to you atm, but in 2008 USA wasn't the favorite for medal, it was China (host), Brazil, Cuba, and Russia.

actually in 2008, BRA was the heavy favorite, followed by ITA (ranked #2 in the world at the time), USA, etc.

CUB of course impressed everybody in group stage by beating both CHN and USA, whereas ITA got humiliated by BRA in their group (remember how many times aguero was blocked? the BRA basically put a roof on her...). ITA might have reached final 4, but fivb did a draw for the 2nd and 3rd places, so ITA had to face USA (2 x 2, instead of 2 x 3). and of course CUB disintegrated in the semis and bronze medal match. 2008 was the last time CUB had a top team, i think.

in 2012, the USA were the favorites but they disintegrated in the final against BRA.

Quote from ossubtus

actually in 2008, BRA was the heavy favorite, followed by ITA (ranked #2 in the world at the time), USA, etc.

CUB of course impressed everybody in group stage by beating both CHN and USA, whereas ITA got humiliated by BRA in their group (remember how many times aguero was blocked? the BRA basically put a roof on her...). ITA might have reached final 4, but fivb did a draw for the 2nd and 3rd places, so ITA had to face USA (2 x 2, instead of 2 x 3). and of course CUB disintegrated in the semis and bronze medal match. 2008 was the last time CUB had a top team, i think.

in 2012, the USA were the favorites but they disintegrated in the final against BRA.

and I think that year was one of two of their best teams they had taken to the Olympics.

Any links

Are there any links for USA-CHN??

Adams starting instead of Dixon/Gibbemeyer

USA x China

language = portuguese

It's worrying that the challenges are taking that much time

the dark circles under the eyes of the Chinese team....

The ref was terrible, it was a clear touch.

Livestream (chinese language):

Thank you so much sloth and fire_cai_bin!!

All of sudden USA being not in my group doesn't look so bad. They always transform into a tough beast to beat after an unconvincing pool group.

USA playing pretty good, and leading throughout most of the first set, and yet China found a way to grab it in the end

USA isn't gonna be happy losing the first set 25-22, especially with so many errors on China early in the set

China came to win the championship. Zhu being Zhu, the libero and the 201 cm player doing amazing (i will learn the names, i promise)

10 points for Zhu Ting in the first set

Did they just showed former USA setter Lindsey Berg in the audience? Carli needs to give Akinradewo a much higher ball.

What a come back for China, Zhu is being perfect!! She killed every ball.

China really needs to lower errors and defend (especially tips) better. Luckily Zhang performed well in the first set but Gong needs to step up.