Display Moreargue all you want, but I agree when someone says Brazil is the best ALL AROUND team in this tournament. the kills distribution is almost fair, with Tandara, Natalia, Rosamaria contributing. then we have Ade and Bia who are both monsters at the net. And Roberta, who imo, is the best setter this final round has.
volleyball is a team sport. when you have 7 players (plus libero) that know their roles and play their role accordingly, then you don't need one superplayer. I am not saying having a superplayer is a bad thing (it clearly works for Korea and Italy) but I prefer a more all around team. having more lethal attackers means the game will not be predictable. The middle blockers will be on his/her feet all the time trying to guess where the setter is going to set the ball. this is what happened back then when Brazil has Sheila/Mari/Paula trio. it is a huge advantage because the team will be able to do combination plays and what not.
having a super player is also a huge advantage because when you have that one intimidating player, everyone will be on their feet watching for that player, and that is already a psychological advantage. however, the team needs to make sure this super player will not be exhausted/choke during the crucial moment -- like Egonu did. when your number one player is on the down low, who is going to pick up the pieces? yes, she is young and she still has a lot of volleyball years ahead of her, but we also have to take consideration of physiological response. having to swing around 70 to 100 balls per match, continuously will do harm to your body in the long run. it scares me to think if things going to be like this for years to come, Egonu will not last long. hopefully her conditioning sports coach understands her value and her talent and so developing her physical accordingly.
this is my opinion only because i was obsessed with Brazil's best golden triangle era. that is why i always treasure OH that can defend and attack at high intensity like Tom Logan and Sokolova during their prime.
Ill try to explain for you the reason why we brazilians dont give so much attention, and passion, to superplayers... As everybody knows, at the 90's, we had a dream team, with Fernanda, Fofão, Ana Moser, Hilma, Fu, Ana Paula, Ida, Ana Flavia, Leila, Virna... And, in other hand, we had Cuba too... And we learned, at the worst way, that a impressive attack by Luis or Torres makes the same number of points of a top of the block used by Virna... This kind of psychological advantage by intimidation of a great attack was completly dissolved at Brasil philosofy of game... They just dont care about this... And we, brazilian fans, dont mind about this players... I had many doubts about Zhu, as a player, how long she will "survive" out of her natural enviorment (Chinas full time national team), but after that game with Ned, without any necessitie to win, i saw a trully champion and a player compromissed with their team and hers fans. She is, despite your skills, a superplayer.