Again, the 2nd set was won for Italy because of an insane serve turn from Mazzone, now the 4th is being won by a single turn from Zaytsev.
Italy is completely dependant on their serve, any team that receives better than what Argentina did today can easily beat them I'm afraid.
Not sure if the news broke into worldwide media, but there's some drama with the Brazilian team: after their win against France, both Wallace and Maurício Souza posed for the official pic showing signs of support for a presidential candidate here (who is basically the second coming of Hitler and I'm not even sugarcoating it) and were reprehended for it. Evandro did something similar today too on Instagram. Not sure if it had any effect on today's result against Holland (they indeed played better than Brazil, though), but...
Not that it's important, but I, for one, have quit rooting for the NT and this particular group of players. Quite a few others have done the same.
Why did Velasco left Palacios and Bruno though? Seems like those player could be more helpful than the opposite Gonzales.
There have been a couple of double touch b Giannelli, but they havent been called.
I also dont understand why Candellaro comes in for serving if Cester serves is more dangerous.
Today isnt Facundo's day. He has been well controlled by the italian block.
Italy and Argentina is getting more interesting though.
There have been a couple of double touch b Giannelli, but they havent been called.
I also dont understand why Candellaro comes in for serving if Cester serves is more dangerous.
Today isnt Facundo's day. He has been well controlled by the italian block.
I wanted to ask the same question.. is Cester out od the picture even for serving ?
It's just scary for Italy when Lanza is too poor. Baranowicz serving was just timely.
Why did Velasco left Palacios and Bruno though? Seems like those player could be more helpful than the opposite Gonzales.
Palacios had poor WL and Bruno is old and too short to be useful anymore, I fear. Anyway, both are OH, Gonzalez is Opp (and funny you say that, he had extraordinaty 4th set just now lol).
Well, too bad, we really deserved at least a point from this match.
Palacios had poor WL and Bruno is old and too short to be useful anymore, I fear. Anyway, both are OH, Gonzalez is Opp (and funny you say that, he had extraordinaty 4th set just now lol).
Well, too bad, we really deserved at least a point from this match.
Agree on the 4th set of Gonzales but he's still been pretty much average so far. It could have been much better to have Lima as a sole opp. Palacios can still ensure a high ball solution(he's also younger) and Bruno is a leader to me in his club. I think there's still more use to them than Gonzales in the long term.
Argentina did eally deserved at least one point from this match. The gap was like 8 points and the comeback was almost done. What a pity!
Loser and Sole block touched almost every single spike from the 18-13 point. I hope Loser keep developing as he is doing, his future is bright.
Well, now I think Baranowicz should come as service specialist instead of Cester or Candellaro 
In fact, when Lanza is out, he is really OUT of the match. He could have been subbed by Maruotti.
Not sure if the news broke into worldwide media, but there's some drama with the Brazilian team: after their win against France, both Wallace and Maurício Souza posed for the official pic showing signs of support for a presidential candidate here (who is basically the second coming of Hitler and I'm not even sugarcoating it) and were reprehended for it. Evandro did something similar today too on Instagram. Not sure if it had any effect on today's result against Holland (they indeed played better than Brazil, though), but...
Not that it's important, but I, for one, have quit rooting for the NT and this particular group of players. Quite a few others have done the same.
Reading a bit into it (I usually don't follow politics at all, ignorance is bliss...) this is just disgusting. Especially assuming they have Douglas in the team who according to that politician probably shouldn't live at all 
Agree on the 4th set of Gonzales but he's still been pretty much average so far. It could have been much better to have Lima as a sole opp. Palacios can still ensure a high ball solution(he's also younger) and Bruno is a leader to me in his club. I think there's still more use to them than Gonzales in the long term.
Thing is Lima has his up and downs too, he's not that stable. Today he had fantastic 1st set but then couldn't kill almost anything in the next two sets.
Also, it doesn't help us that Facu Conte wasted two years of his career in China and he is in bad shape now. If he was at his best I would simply play him as Opp and Poglajen + Lopez or Zanotti as OH.
Unfortunately, WCh is essentially over for our team now. They had the objective (or the hope) to reach final six and finally do something significant, but it's already imposible after 3 games. They will probably now play unmotivated and lose to Slovenia as well.
Preparation wasn't great so this isn't exactly unexpected to me (Conte and Solé with injury problems, De Cecco out of shape and with personal problems, coach already announcing departure before the competition), but it's depressing that the eternal circle of disappointment continues for our NT.
Reading a bit into it (I usually don't follow politics at all, ignorance is bliss...) this is just disgusting. Especially assuming they have Douglas in the team who according to that politician probably shouldn't live at all
Yep. Maique (our second libero in this WCH) too. And they posed right behind Douglas in that picture too, to make things worse. Might be a tad too extreme, but I wish both Douglas and Maique would just quit the team at this point.
Funnily enough, a few years ago Wallace suffered a racist attack during a game in Brazil where someone called him a 'monkey'. It was a big deal back then, but it seems he hasn't learned a single thing. It's all very disappointing.
Yep. Maique (our second libero in this WCH) too. And they posed right behind Douglas in that picture too, to make things worse. Might be a tad too extreme, but I wish both Douglas and Maique would just quit the team at this point.
Funnily enough, a few years ago Wallace suffered a racist attack during a game in Brazil where someone called him a 'monkey'. It was a big deal back then, but it seems he hasn't learned a single thing. It's all very disappointing.
I was also wondering the same. I knew Douglas wasnt the only homosexual player in Brazil NT. I just didnt remember the name of the other player.
I just found quite embarassing the fact Wallace and Souza show their supporting to candidate who stands those XIX century beliefs. It is like they used the gusty victory against France in a political way.
It is a pity that players who someone could consider them idols show so much ignorance. It happened with Sheilla too, who I admire so much, but after her words (full of ignorance) in the Tiffany's case, I just started to watch her with differente eyes...
Sket made the difference for Slovenia after the second dset.
He was wonderful indeed! Not only in attack, but also in defense!
NED just beat BRA with 3:1! Interesting.
Really interesting! I'm guessing Abdel Aziz amazing performance?
EDIT: he wasn't playing titular! That's a surprise to me.
What a terrible mis-call by the referee in favour of Italy at this score. No way in hell this was a carry by Sole!!!
I'm rooting for Italy, but that was a very bad call and to be honest that's the reason they are gonna win this game.. a single mistake by the referee
That call was insane, but unfortunately it wasn't the only one. I can recall at least 3 (this one; an italian 'roof' fault considered Argentina fault; a 'roof' fault called to Osmany even if he didn't touch the ball and the video check confirmed it; plus – but this is an error I can understand – at the beginning of the first set the referee let Italy playing the ball for a second action, even if Argentina's block hadn't touch it).
Most of the ball calls were vs Argentina, one vs Italy (in the same set of the one you're speaking about, I think).
I hope it was just poor judgment and not host-influence.
Still, I generally don't like to put the fault/credits of a won/defeat on the referee, even if in certain closes circumstances (like, an error at 14-13 in a tie break) of course it can absolutely make the difference.
There have been a couple of double touch b Giannelli, but they havent been called.
I also dont understand why Candellaro comes in for serving if Cester serves is more dangerous.
Giannelli did some bad sets today, but judging a double touches (which I honestly didn't catch, nor my friends – while we all agree on the referees mistakes vs Argentina) from the TV is quite arrogant, imho. Especially in an era were the referee aren't that critical about this fault.
I also thought Cester has a better float serve, so I was surprised as well, but it was a long time I was wondering why keeping using Nelli instead of Cester/Candellaro. And may be after today Mazzone deserves more chances to prove himself 
(as Baranowicz!).
Plus, I didn't like Anzani today (no block, no attack, few messy actions like not closed smash ball, 'roof' faults...), so I was really surprised he wasn't subbed.
Today isnt Facundo's day. He has been well controlled by the italian block.
I thought Italian block was terrible today XD
Anyway, I read he had physical problems during the summer, so I guess he isn't in his best shape, as De Cecco (unfortunately, I was waiting to watch him playing! It would have been nice to have him playing as captain vs his former and future captained players: Zaytsev, Anzani, Colaci, Lanza.)
It's just scary for Italy when Lanza is too poor.
You didn't watch the whole match, but for a decent part of it he was one of the best on court, both in reception (were Osmany struggled A LOT, at the beginning) and in attack.
Anyway, he is a player that rarely got better when he starts playing poorly, but when you have Randazzo and Maruotti on the bench...
In general, Argentina was AMAZING in defense: I expected them to touch a lot, but they not only 'touched', the often create the chance to spike again, something Italy couldn't do properly even when touched in defense (not so rarely, after all).
Plus, Argentina was wonderful in using the Italian block (with some fault of Italy), and in recovering in the 4th set, I thought they were going to grab it, then Zaytsev (at least twice) + Mazzone block (Hallelujah!) + Baranowicz serve (miracle!) happened.
In the second set we have to thank them to keeping as alive in the beginning with something like 4-5 serve errors in 6 Italian points. They were doing and undoing everything on their own since 8-6, then Italy completely changed the set.
Pogjalen 70% in attack (14/20, 0 errors and 0 blocked), 2 blocks, 2 aces (also crucial)!!!
Ps it's terrible to learn these politics inside about Brazil 
And here I thought Italy was the online to struggle with these kind of politicians... (well, plus USA with Trump...)
saishuu, that's horrible... such ignorant morons... is m. souza the OH or the MB?
saishuu, that's horrible... such ignorant morons... is m. souza the OH or the MB?
it's the MB. he's been like this for years and everyone just got used to it, but now the others started to come forward too and it's been a mess. I'm massively disappointed since I grew up being a fan of this NT, but it's impossible to cheer for them now.
anyway, sorry for the OT, mods!
did TUN really lose a set 25-6? damn you, corrupt fivb ... it's time africa lost a spot in the WCh (3 spots is one too many), and norceca should lose 2.
anyone has a link for SLO x BEL?
I just realized the formulas of men's and women's competition are different. I don't know which one is better.
How are they different?