2018 FIVB World Championship - Japan

    Tbh I'd love Netherlands or even Thailand to host, NL proved they can host a tournament. I was at the Ech there and it was flawless (though some lady did drop her beer on my neck... XD)


    Thailand, you can say whatever you want about them, but I remember watching WGP games for example and they fill crowds and are very excited about matches even when their own team is not playing..


    My picks:


    1. The Netherlands

    2. Thailand


    Other countries (not likely): maybe the USA, Poland?(depends on their game upcoming years), Brazil?? (Nah)



    Definitely not list: Japan, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria and obv also all the low level countries


    I don't think I'd like China to host either.


    Dark horse: South Korea (I love watching matches in SK, very next level) sadly their level drops :(((

    Quote from beri

    Dark horse: South Korea (I love watching matches in SK, very next level) sadly their level drops :(((

    That would be interesting. Koreans know how to party. They are super tech savvy--I think they have the fastest Internet on earth--and they are aware of the modern world and care about belonging to it.


    It might lift the Korean game as well.

    Let's not only reason in terms of good or bad volleyball teams, but rather markets and accessibility. Any European country hosting can fill seats with both locals and foreign visitors, considering how many CEV teams are competitive. Anywhere in western or central Europe will do.

    Quote from vabo

    Let's not only reason in terms of good or bad volleyball teams, but rather markets and accessibility. Any European country hosting can fill seats with both locals and foreign visitors, considering how many CEV teams are competitive. Anywhere in western or central Europe will do.

    Last year's ECH Final had a half empty arena. Japan is sucking but I'm not sure if any European country would do that much better.

    Italy was really good host. Final match was sold out and it was between USA and China. And pool stage had crowd.

    Germany hosting in 2013 Ech was really good. A lot of people watched even pool stage without Germany playing.


    Ned was amazing but only for their team.

    I'm sure, that Germany could easily top the numbers of Japan in match attendance, especially in no
    Germany matches, but this can't be paid here - you will nowadays not find sponsors for it. And the German volleyball federation DVV has nearly no money...

    It is so funny to read something like that When you know that Germany is very stabile and rich country.


    I remember in match between Russia and Croatian in pool stage venue was almost sold out. Atmosphera was really good. That was so nice to see.

    If China wins this WCH, they will be the reigning champions of the 4 biggest vball competitions in FIVB calendar (World Cup, Olympics, Grand Champions Cup and World Championship). If that happens, will they be the first team in history to achieve that or some other team already got it (maybe Cuba in 90’s, idk)?

    Quote from Andre Marquim

    If China wins this WCH, they will be the reigning champions of the 4 biggest vball competitions in FIVB calendar (World Cup, Olympics, Grand Champions Cup and World Championship). If that happens, will they be the first team in history to achieve that or some other team already got it (maybe Cuba in 90’s, idk)?


    From 1991 to 2000, Cuba won:


    - 3 Gold Olympic medals

    - 3 World Cups

    - 2 World Championships

    - 1 World Grand Champions Cup


    The Cubans did it twice.

    I kept saying how unfair it was to have the 5th-6th final as last match, and that at least Italy has the match at 9.10 am (in Italy) and not at 6.40 am as Serbia and Ned... But now I would be glad if Italy would have played at 3.40 in the night, I can't wait!!! :lol:

    Quote from Insider

    If China wins gold, Zhu Ting will be the only player to win MVP for all 3 (4 if you include world champion cup) majors. And Lang Ping will be the only one to win all 3 majors as a player and as a couch.

    I don't know: with 3 great opposites playing, even in case of China victory they may consider to award two opposites (one as MVP, one as opposite) and to give Zhu a 'normal' best OH...


    Of course I hope we'll never have to find out what happen if China'd win :P

    Quote from pope

    At least I think ZHU will make history by winning Gold and MVP in every major??? I`m looking it up and I`m surprised that Mireya did not win a lot of MVP`s....Regla Torres was MVP in both WCH while at the 1996 OG Cintha Boersma was MVP. ...1997 Champions Cup Artamova was MVP.


    Mireya Luis was World Cup's MVP in 1989 and 1995 edition.

    Quote from Insider

    If China wins gold, Zhu Ting will be the only player to win MVP for all 3 (4 if you include world champion cup) majors. And Lang Ping will be the only one to win all 3 majors as a player and as a couch.

    Actually according to wiki, Lang Ping was the first player to win all 3 majors MVP if they are indeed accurate. Zhu will be her successor if China wins. Zhu will be the only player to win all 4 quad tournament MVPs for sure.

    Interesting article by Fabio Menta on the coming China vs Italy match. Also, it seems to me he is dissing Zhu as only a "cross-court" type of player and not a variety on the latter's attacks. I always thought Zhu belonged to the very top in terms of her attacking skills, but in this context somehow a "cross court"player is suddenly worse (somehow this reminds me of Atanasijevic being dismissed for his prediliction to cross court attacks). Thoughts?


    "There is something about the Italian Game that China cannot cope with. The superiority shown was a mixture of Physical/Technical/Tactical power that forced Coach Lang Ping to use her bench and still not find a solution, ‘cause the problem remained on court: Zhu Ting!

    Totally annihilated the 1st time, up to see her cool gone when protesting against her Setter to the point that, twice, Jenny Lang Ping subbed her, and more positive in the 2nd game when she started attacking line, where Italians don't cover, but slowly going back to same old cross court game, where the Italians are almost unbeatable with De Gennaro.

    Zhu plays against Italy like a first timer: insecure & nervous.

    And her “limits” are visible: cross court player or nothing when it comes to attack with power and limited directions of attack (only 2) plus that Jordan Larson’s “Give me the perfect ball or I take no responsibility jumping and spiking” attitude that I find irritating at the level.

    A great spiker attacks well a bad set ‘cause anybody can attack well a good set, used to say Coach Julio Velasco. A Champion is seen in bad situations and Zhu, against Italy, has disappeared far too many times!"


    Link to full post: https://www.facebook.com/coach…49199058855855?__tn__=K-R

    Quote from Kk15

    I don't know: with 3 great opposites playing, even in case of China victory they may consider to award two opposites (one as MVP, one as opposite) and to give Zhu a 'normal' best OH...


    Of course I hope we'll never have to find out what happen if China'd win :P

    Of course I want Serbia to win Gold and Boskovic MVP... But it would not be fair if China wins and they give MVP for Boskovic...I`m Boskovic`s biggest fan but I would think is unfair to take away Zhu`s MVP....just like I will be pissed if Serbia wins and Zhu wins MVP.


    For me there MVP should go to the winning team China-Zhu, Serbia-Boskovic, Italy-egonu, NED-Sloetjes