France sounds more applying than Serbia so far. They also have the privilege of playing in front of their home crowd. Serbia has become so broken nowadays. I think it's probable to think we're gonna have a Slovenia VS France Final. But everything can happen since the difference in levels isn't much. Serbia may actually defeat France if they play their best game.
CEV Men’s European Championship 2019 - hosts France, Slovenia, Belgium and the Netherlands
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How does Eurovolleytv work for you? I have an annoying second voice in another language.
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How does Eurovolleytv work for you? I have an annoying second voice in another language.
Sorry I don't have Eurovolleytv, but there's the great Colantoni-Lucchetta duo commentating on Italian TV
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Ngapeth, Petric and Kovacevic on court reminds me of Modena's glorious days
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Sorry I don't have Eurovolleytv, but there's the great Colantoni-Lucchetta duo commentating on Italian TV
It's a joke. Isn't it?
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It's a joke. Isn't it?
Sadly it's not a joke
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Sadly it's not a joke
Trust me, I always hated web streaming, but, since I subscribed this service, I have to admit it is way better than what the italian TV provides for those unlucky people that watch it. I'm thinking to keep it: apparently they also show men's and women's CL.
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How does everyone feel about Toniutti these days? I feel he's been kinda off for quite a while now (since 2018 perhaps), but I'm not so sure if I'm just imagining things.
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How does everyone feel about Toniutti these days? I feel he's been kinda off for quite a while now (since 2018 perhaps), but I'm not so sure if I'm just imagining things.
IMHO he plays always better with NT than club. And he's doing very well: his reverse sets for Boyer are amazing.
So far France in control, except few rallies in the end of the set (Serbia almost leveled it).
Slovenia-Poland looked a tougher game.
Today L. Tillie started with Lyneel instead of his son.
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IMHO he plays always better with NT than club. And he's doing very well: his reverse sets for Boyer are amazing.
Yeah, I just feel like he isn't as decisive (or creative?) as he was a couple of years ago. But perhaps I just got used to him. lol
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N'Gapeth!
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I think being a fan already makes you subjective to a degree and sometimes it's hard not to be biased. No need to argue, I wouldn't call this arguing but rather discussing. To address some of your points.
Population number was not an excuse but a fact to present the numbers game. You already partly answered what they should represent yourself. We have to look only at those that engage in the sport. Now I don't have the number of active players in Slovenia, Poland or Russia. I can tell you however that in Slovenia there are 114 club registered at the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia (Slovenska odbojkarska zveza), There are 497 in Poland at the Polish Volleyball Federation (Polski Związek Piłki Siatkowej) and I couldn't find the latest Russian numbers. I checked the site of Volleyball Federation of Russia (Всероссийская Федерация Волейбола) but my russian is not at a level that would let me research that much further. The report I found was from season 2014/2015 but didn't refer the number of registered clubs or players. However, going after the trend that a higher population means more registered clubs, which consequently means more players, we can assume that Russia has even more active clubs and players. While this is no proof of any kind, and doesn't generally apply in sports, purely mathematicaly and statisticaly looking, with a higher number of players it is more likely that among those will be a higher percentage of talented players emerging. Maybe this isn't worded properly but I think it is clear what I mean.
Maybe another example to put it into perspective:
There is one Slovenian player playing in the NHL, Anze Kopitar. North America has more registered hockey players that Slovenia has inhabitants. There are 435 canadian players in the NHL out of 637.000 eligible registrated players at Canadian Hockey Association . That is 0.0683%. One slovenian player out of 180 registered players at Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia (Hokejska zveza Slovenije) is 0.555%. I think those number speak for themself.
I thought maybe you would like this analogy because you like to stay to facts and stats.In the end, this doesn't prove anything. That doesn't mean Slovenia has better athlets or that they are inherenthly disadvantaged in competitions.
I, personally however, think that being among top teams in Europe (currently) and being able to compete with the best in the world is a great achievement for the country and its athletes. I think it's fair to praise them for their run in the ECH.
You said yourself, North Macedonia and Slovenia both have a population of ~2M, yet Slovenia is ranked 17th by FIVB and North Macedonia 131st.
I think I already shared my thoughs on the game between the two. I'll just copy my final thought.
When it comes to stats and past achievements I have nothing to add. I agree with you, historically Slovenia's NT didn't have any visible results and major success. Although, However, I hope we can agree that the team has played well the last couple of years when compared to their previous results and has improved. I think this is Slovenia's peak performance at the moment in term of the result (not their gameplay on the court).
We might not agree on our individual and personal interpretation of a top team but I think I was careful with my choice of words. I called Slovenia's NT a top team while Poland and Rusia World class. I'm not arguing with your tier list though, quite contrary I agree with it. I'm just voicing my opinion that Slovenia's NT is deservedly in the final of ECH 2019 and looking at the most recent results can be called a top team.
With that out of the way. Let's enjoy today's game.
TBH, I am a Poland NT hater most of the time, I don't like Heynen and some of Polish players. But I do agree they are one of best teams in the world, based on the stats in world tournaments.
The basic logic is: if we say Slovenia is a top team because they beat Russia/Poland in knockout. Then how about when Slovenia lost to North Macedonia and Russia in group matches, can we say they are a bottom team? Clearly not. In this case we just say they have a good day or bad day. So what's the standard to define a top team (Class A team) and good team (Class B team)? I won't use I feel, I think, I sense or whatever words. I only check their NT stats, esp stats in Olympics, WCH and WC. Hard evidence talks, just like we evaluate a player by his stats in the whole season, not just by several games.
If someone said Slovenia is a top team in this ECH, I agree. But if someone said Slovenia is a top team in the world, I do not agree. A top team, by default, should be defined or checked by spanning a certain period of time, such as a few years, to make it more convincing. Just my 2 cents.
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Why are you counting down all the results from stone age? I might not be expert at men's volleyball but what I do know is; in sports what matters is the most recent results!
Cuban women volleyball team might be the most successful team based on their history but they are not considered as a strong team just because of their medals 20 years ago.
By the way it is very funny that you brought up Serbia-Yugoslavia topic. Montenegro was part of Yugoslavia as well, does it make them also strong team now based on your criteria?
Having a lot of medals in the PAST only makes you a country with a strong volleyball history but it doesn't mean the team is the strongest right now. Thus, Slovenia is a strong team without much success in the past, which is totally understandable as it is a very new country.
Fine, Serbia got 4th place in WCH 2018. France got 4th place in WCH 2014. If you still argue 2014 is also a stone age, I have no words. I don't like to discuss this topic with someone who did not even watch Men's games. You don't have to be an expert to understand what I said. As long as you watched Men's games, you will know.
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Serbia strikes back heavily in the second set. Atanasijevic is a monster among monsters! He's finally back in shape. Absolutely 100% spike rate until now. Serbia's block is killing Lyneel and Boyer so they can't spike the ball recklessly. But idk why when Serbia gets a good point distance they become loose, making too many errors and letting France get some consecutive points one after another.
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Serbia should have no problems to take set #2.
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Serbia strikes back heavily in the second set. Atanasijevic is a monster among monsters! He's finally back in shape. Absolutely 100% spike rate until now. Serbia's block is killing Lyneel and Boyer so they can't spike the ball recklessly. But idk why when Serbia gets a good point distance they become loose, making too many errors and letting France get some consecutive points one after another.
When AA is on fire, he's scary. But sometimes he choked in clutch time, such as WCH 2018 final 4 and Italian league final 2018-19.
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Serbia should have no problems to take set #2.
This is France, not some random team. I wouldn't be so sure of that.
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My goodness, 19:11 - > 21:18
Drama starts?
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This is France, not some random team. I wouldn't be so sure of that.
24:19, almost nailed.
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What Serbia is doing?
24:19 -> 24:22 now.