FIVB World Cup 2019 - Sept. 14 to 29, Japan

  • A lot of the chinese clubs have receiving opposites. And if you're an opp player that wants to make it to the NT then you better have that in your skillset.

  • It looks like Liu Yan-han speaks the most fluent English among the current Chinese team members that she even acted as an interpreter for the post-match interview with Zhang Chang-ning.


    “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

  • Today's match outcome is a nice repay by the Chinese squad to the straight set defeat to the U.S. team in the 2019 VNL, Jiangmen leg, 2019.6.13. In that match the Chinese team was steamrolled by the U.S. team, NT A vs NT A, 0-3 (17-25, 22-25, 21-25) in a shocking fast and furious game.


    The most significant differences of today's match cf. the VNL prelim: Wang Meng-jie was on court today instead of Lin Li and she played good or great in helping defence, while Lin was pointed as the main culprit of that easy defeat; also Zhang Chang-ning regained her top form compared to the summer.


    Matches between CHN vs USA are ever fascinating to watch and many times they look like a drama, and both teams are among the best in the world for many years.


    In a more ideal schedule, I'll expect this match be staged yesterday and CHN vs BRA and USA vs JPN be played today.


    “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

  • A lot of the chinese clubs have receiving opposites. And if you're an opp player that wants to make it to the NT then you better have that in your skillset.

    Lang Ping said in an interview a while ago. To qualify as an OPP in Chinese NT, you must have the ability to receive the ball. From Zeng to Gong, they all have same styles. Their attack is not as strong as top European OPPs like Egnou, Boskovic and Sloetjes, so they must have other skills to stand out and help the team.

  • Yes, especially China has really good OHs now, Zhu, Zhang and Li. All of them are good hitters and somebody needs to do the dirty work like digging and passing.

    It's a balancing act. China's two OHs are tall and heavy so the defense is compensated with a tinier but agile opposite who does everything but score.


    For teams like Russia, they still haven't found the solution because they're no more producing players like Sokolova or Scherban even though they have historically great opposites.


    Brazil does not have either of the two so having balanced players from all parts of the pin with a good setter is important to be able to use the middle attacks but sadly they are not even that good anymore after Fabiana Walewska and Thaisa.

    Favorite players: M: Maxim Mikhaylov, Murilo, Serginho, Aaron Russell, Otavio, Simone Giannelli, Ivan Zaytsev, Tsvetan Sokolov, Michał Kubiak, Mariusz Wlazly, Pawel Zagummy W: Sheilla, Zhu Ting, Natalia, Fe Garay, Fofao, Gabi, Thaisa, Foluke Akinradewo, Wei Qiuyue, Ding Xia, Carli Lloyd, Fabi, Natalia Goncharova, Yuko Sano, Saoris Kimura and Sakoda


    #FreeBritney

  • Rossiya team is close to clinch a full 3 points retaining full sets against the ARG, happy go lucky team, leading 2-0 with ease now... securing the medal race!


    RUS is still fielding its main line-up against the team at the bottom of table, showing the importance of this match for them! Busato clearly does not want to take any risk. Sorry big girls, no rest for you :-)


    “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

    Edited once, last by samsara ().

  • This Kenyan team will faithfully yet cheerfully contribute three full points in full three sets to every other participant here except perhaps its teammate from Africa :dance4:


    “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

  • And some may still have big smile(s) witnessing the brilliant strategy to dispatch the lesser team to the 'meaningless' World Cup :whistle:


    Talking about consequences.

    As far as consequences go, losing the #1 on FIVB is pretty milquetoast. You know, it really is not that important whether you are #1, 2, 3 or 4. As long as you are still in top 6, it's all good. In volleyball, it's much, much less important (and prestigious) to hold world #1 ranking spot than in football, basketball, or even tennis.


    Besides, what was the alternative? Let the A team play such exhausting tournaments as ECh and World Cup back-to-back, with less than a week of rest in-between?! Those 2 tournaments last a whole month between them. And then, to immediately begin a club season where every single member of Serbia's A team is playing an important role?!


    They would be dead come Tokyo. If you want someone to blame, blame FIVB and their idiotic schedule, not Serbian volleyball federation or Terzic.

  • As far as consequences go, losing the #1 on FIVB is pretty milquetoast. You know, it really is not that important whether you are #1, 2, 3 or 4. As long as you are still in top 6, it's all good. In volleyball, it's much, much less important (and prestigious) to hold world #1 ranking spot than in football, basketball, or even tennis.


    Besides, what was the alternative? Let the A team play such exhausting tournaments as ECh and World Cup back-to-back, with less than a week of rest in-between?! Those 2 tournaments last a whole month between them. And then, to immediately begin a club season where every single member of Serbia's A team is playing an important role?!


    They would be dead come Tokyo. If you want someone to blame, blame FIVB and their idiotic schedule, not Serbian volleyball federation or Terzic.

    Well said, who cares if you are No.1 or No.2?

  • Well said, who cares if you are No.1 or No.2?

    Actually it does matter for the Pools for the Olympics and any other tournament because your opponents are based on ranking and it will also determine when you play your opponents. Based on the qualified teams and World ranking of the best team from each Continent is as follows


    Pool A

    Japan (host)

    USA (3)

    Brazil (4)

    Italy (8)

    S. Korea (9, AVC)

    Cameroon (17, CAVB)


    Pool B

    Serbia (1)

    China (2)

    Russia (5)

    Netherlands (7, CEV)

    Dominican Republic (10, NORCECA)

    Argentina (11, CSV)


    Depending on what the new rankings will be at the end of this tournament (do they use the VNL results, continental champs, etc.) this will make a different. Brazil wants no part of the Dominican Republic in their match. USA would prefer to not have Japan but they are kind of stuck because China and Serbia will probably still be in front of them no matter what happens the rest of the World Cup.

  • In case you don't know, Pool B eliminated Pool A in the quarterfinals in Rio. So it's not necessarily a bad thing if you are in a stronger group.