CEV Men's European Volleyball Championship 2021 | Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Poland

    Ngapeth :down::down::down:

    Ngapeth's behaviour is disgusting, rooting for Germany to win this match

    Russia looks emasculated :what: They are having trouble with mid-level teams, I can't believe this is the same team that won Olympic silver just a little less over a month ago. I didn't expect the absence of Maxim/Poletaev will have such an impact on the team. Kliuka is okay-ish as Opp and I expect he will run out of gas soon as he is overused by the setter. He clearly is still uncomfortable attacking from the back line, and Volkov-Podlesnykkh receiving line is shaky. Russian middles are not as dominant as they are used to. And lastly, Golubev is still the starting libero :gone:

    Pankov is still starting, and his predilection to set the pins every time even on a good pass is hurting Russia. I really don't get the hype with him :whistle:

    Unicorn, his reach is insane considering he's not fully physically shaped in age of 19.



    (Lucchetta :lol:)


    Italy defeated Slovenia 3-0 and has pretty good draw to make suprisingly semifinal here, probably with Bulgaria/Czech Republic or Germany as an opponent in QF. I don't trust neither Pinali (awful tournament so far) and Romano (again decent as a sub, but how long he can maintain this level?), but with Lavia playing like that, Italian NT, it seems, is really dangerous earlier than we could've expected after Tokyo.

    I really didnt expect Italy would beat 3-0 Slovenia. Not that score at all. Slovenia performed really well in the last VNL and Italy is in transition now. As it was pointed out, it seems (just seems) Italy would be dangerous earlier than expected. But let's see how they finished the tournament.


    Btw, after watching Balaso performance (not only here, but also in VNL)...gosh he should have gone to Tokyo.

    Quote from Leonardo.D

    Btw, after watching Balaso performance (not only here, but also in VNL)...gosh he should have gone to Tokyo.

    Balaso has improved into world-class libero like two seasons ago in Civitanova, it's just one person that needed to be convinced that's a case. Funny part is that sometimes role of libero is a bit overestimated (just reading a discussion in other thread), but Colaci was so awful against Argentina (the weakest point in reception, out-digged by both Italian OHs as well) that bringing Balaso could've given semifinal to Italy, considering how close was this QF match. Not to mention playing with injured Zaytsev who needed serious surgery after OG. :lol:


    I don't know how long it will last, I wouldn't be suprised if Italy gets eliminated by Germany or Bulgaria in QF, but we haven't seen a vibe from Italy playing on 110% of their potential in a long time.

    Quote from liberokaran

    ah thanks. What about Kevin tillie and thibault Rossard?

    I've heard that Tillie did the same as Boyer, and Rossard rejected a convocation after he was left out in Tokyo squad, but I don't know if the latter is correct, I'm not that much interested in French volleyball and I just thought he didn't make it because Rezende selected his roster from Tokyo squad (coached by Tillie) and B squad (coached by Rezende in the summer), and Rossard wasn't present in neither of them, because in this B team there were mostly juniors and youngsters. Either way, I just hope he'll get a shot in NT once, he's a better player than both Louati and Tillie.

    Okay, so the group stage phase has ended, finally. That's a draw:


    dsa


    - Poland will play at home to the end of the event, but Kurek has looked a bit sloppy, and our coach won't stop playing with out-of-shape Kubiak in a starting lineup, so we can flop again once we play some decent opponent;

    - Russia was pretty bad during a group stage, but I'd give them benefit of a doubt, although with a 2nd place in their group their draw is pretty insane (Poland --> France --> final) for ECH standards;

    - France hasn't met any decent rival so far, with Germany tactically playing with half-reserve lineup in their encounter, but they looked fine from what I've seen: Ngapeth is on fire, Patry is stable as always, Rezende gave Toniutti a lead for now as a 1st setter, but this time without Tilie, Boyer or Rossard their bench isn't that good like in Tokyo, so it may be a factor, although they're my no 1 favorite actually;

    - Slovenia has been really disappointing, but two years ago they'd started slowly and then defeated Russia and Poland in QF/SF, respectively, so that's a consequence of the formula that some teams will peak at the right time - we'll see if that's a case here;

    - it was really disappointing that Dzavoronok has decided not to play in NT for a while, because Czech Republic has looked really decent from perspective of squad that they have, and in full strength they could've even won their group;

    - Nimir is ridiculous, as always in Orange jersey, and I really wonder how far can Netherlands go with this one-man-army type of playing, because they've got into favorable part of a draw;

    - Serbia was really subpar for their standards during group phase, what was kinda odd considering that this is their most important event of the summer, both Luburic and Atanasijevic, unfortunately in the latter case, struggled a lot on a right wing. But after all, finishing 2nd in A Group gave them much weaker half of a draw, with Netherlands first in Group C, so if they peak with form at the right time, it will bring a nice outcome for Serbian team, I assume;

    - Italy has been probably the biggest positive suprise of this evening so far, but this game against Czech Republic showed why they won't get so far any spectacular result: once Lavia stopped to finish his attacks on really high percentages, their lack of true opposite made them very vulnerable and these 1st-3rd sets were so unimpressive. On the other hand - this is still pretty decent shot to make semifinal out of it, so it looks that Michieletto will get a 1st chance to exceed expectations with his team as a leader, I'm really curious whether he's able to overcome a pressure he'll soon meet;

    - Bulgaria has been for sure the biggest negative suprise of this evening so far: in win-or-go-home match against Belarus, Davyskiba&Co were close to make it to the tiebreak with two juniors as OH/OPP, and this is good summary of what Bulgaria has shown so far, I really wonder if they can back on track in two days from now in 1/8 against Germany (I don't think so);

    - Germany is a question mark: on the one hand, they're like typical German team that we've seen for 6-7 years (okay, but not spectacular OHs, okay MBs, okay libero, okay setter, Grozer and the great coach), and it was enough to be from time to time really dangerous for best teams of the continent, on the other hand - Grozer is 37yo already, so the question is open whether he's still able to push his team really far, if not, I don't think they have quality on other wing big enough to win a medal;

    - I feel sorry for Turkey, actually: obviously, they lack receiving, 2nd OH, better setter and much more experience to make a real impact in competitions like this, but it's still sad that after really unexpected beginning we will (probably) witness really expected end;


    My bets:


    Poland-Russia (Poland in 4)

    France-Slovenia (France in 4)

    Serbia-Netherlands (Serbia in 3)

    Italy-Germany (Germany in 4)

    Quote from Realista

    I've heard that Tillie did the same as Boyer, and Rossard rejected a convocation after he was left out in Tokyo squad, but I don't know if the latter is correct, I'm not that much interested in French volleyball and I just thought he didn't make it because Rezende selected his roster from Tokyo squad (coached by Tillie) and B squad (coached by Rezende in the summer), and Rossard wasn't present in neither of them, because in this B team there were mostly juniors and youngsters. Either way, I just hope he'll get a shot in NT once, he's a better player than both Louati and Tillie.

    honestly louati is not bad but yeap Rossard should definitely get in over Tillie now that his dad is no longer the coach.

    Quote from inc0gnito

    Ngapeth's behaviour is disgusting, rooting for Germany to win this match

    What happened?


    I have never been NG's fan, and will never be, after watching his drama in Italy Superlega and Russia League for years.

    Even NG got Olympics champion, but he's still a horrible person.


    Poland vs Russia is 50%-50%. France is top dog for sure, but we all knew Slovenia always had some dramas in this tournament. Italy vs Germany is hard to predict. Germany played horribly against Bulgaria today. If Italy can block Grozer's attack, they have chances.


    Knockout is just one game thing. It's hard to predict the result based on their roster or last game's performance. No one can predict France can win Olympics champion after the group match.