Posts by brahmin

FIVB Men's Rankings as of October 11, 2010, my rankings in parenthesis

1 Brazil 247.50 (1)
2 Russia 185.00 (2)
3 USA 172.00 (4)
4 Serbia 167.75 (5)
5 Cuba 157.25 (3)
6 Italy 150.50 (6)
7 Bulgaria 120.75 (8)
8 Argentina 98.25 (9)
9 Poland 93.75 (7)
10 Germany 81.25 (11)
11 China 74.75 (16)
12 France 64.00 (10)
13 Egypt 61.75 (15)
14 Japan 58.75 (13)
15 Venezuela 53.25 (22)
16 Puerto Rico 49.25 (19)
17 Cameroon 48.50 (32)
18 Iran 46.75 (21)
19 Korea 40.25 (17)
20 Mexico 39.75 (27)
21 Canada 38.75 (30)
22 Algeria 38.25 (36)
23 Czech Republic 38.00 (220)
24 Spain 35.25 (18)
25 Tunisia 34.75 (35)
26 Morocco 27.75 (53)
27 Colombia 27.00 (59)
28 Netherlands 26.50 (14)
29 Australia 26.50 (26)
30 Dom. Republic 24.75 (43)
31 Kazakhstan 24.00 (39)
32 Finland 22.50 (12)
33 Chile 20.75 (64)
34 Indonesia 19.75 (49)
35 Panama 19.00 (67)
36 Slovakia 18.00 (23)
37 Portugal 16.25 (28)
38 India 16.00 (38)
38 Romania 16.00 (34)
40 South Africa 15.75 (65)
41 Barbados 15.00 (77)
41 Estonia 15.00 (31)
41 Slovenia 15.00 (29)
44 Chinese Taipei 14.75 (54)
45 Greece 14.00 (24)
45 Belgium 14.00 (25)
47 Botswana 13.00 (81)
48 Turkey 12.75 (33)
48 Thailand 12.75 (47)
50 Uruguay 11.75 (101)
51 Belarus 11.00 (41)
52 Nigeria 10.75 (80)
53 Paraguay 10.50 (70)
54 Peru 10.00 (115)
54 Libya 10.00 (68)
54 Ukraine 10.00 (46)
54 Qatar 10.00 (51)
54 Latvia 10.00 (42)
54 Croatia 10.00 (58)
54 Bahamas 10.00 (84)
61 Denmark 9.00 (105)
61 Guatemala 9.00 (83)
61 Mauritius 9.00 (69)
61 Montenegro 9.00 (37)
61 Kenya 9.00 (96)
61 Surinam 9.00 (75)
61 American V. Islands 9.00 (94)
68 Trinidad & Tobago 8.75 (73)
68 Mozambique 8.75 (117)
70 Austria 8.00 (78)
70 Albania 8.00 (87)
70 Costa Rica 8.00 (76)
70 United Arab Emirates 8.00 (110)
70 Jamaica 8.00 (86)
70 Zimbabwe 8.00 (93)
70 Pakistan 8.00 (57)
77 Israel 7.00 (52)
77 Moldova 7.00 (74)
77 Bosnia Herzeg. 7.00 (60)
77 Maldives 7.00 (109)
77 Netherlands Antilles 7.00 (91)
77 Oman 7.00 (98)
77 Tonga 7.00 (100)
77 Sweden 7.00 (56)
77 New Zealand 7.00 (99)
77 Bangladesh 7.00 (104)
77 El Salvador 7.00 (79)
77 Haiti 7.00 (111)
89 Hungary 6.00 (45)
89 Azerbaijan 6.00 (90)
89 Norway 6.00 (112)
89 Saint Lucia 6.00 (62)
89 Honduras 6.00 (116)
89 Cayman Islands 6.00 (130)
89 Nicaragua 6.00 (97)
89 Great Britain 6.00 (55)
89 Aruba 6.00 (113)
89 Samoa Islands 6.00 (108)
89 Antigua & Barbuda 6.00 (72)
100 Saint Kitts 5.00 (85)
100 British V. Islands 5.00 (106)
100 Dominica 5.00 (92)
100 Macau 5.00 (126)
100 Anguilla 5.00 (88)
100 Ecuador 5.00 (128)
100 Bolivia 5.00 (122)
100 Malawi 5.00 (129)
100 Fiji Islands 5.00 (130)
100 Saint Vincent & Gre. 5.00 (103)
100 Bermuda 5.00 (118)
100 Grenada 5.00 (130)
100 Montserrat 5.00 (130)
100 Belize 5.00 (125)
114 Gabon 3.75 (124)
115 Vietnam 3.00 (71)
115 Lebanon 3.00 (61)
115 Myanmar 3.00 (66)
118 Philippines 2.00 (119)
118 Sri Lanka 2.00 (82)
120 Luxembourg 1.00 (50)
120 Cyprus 1.00 (40)
120 F.Y.R. Macedonia 1.00 (48)
120 Hong Kong 1.00 (121)
124 Rwanda 0.75 (114)
125 Congo - (136)
125 England -
125 Sudan - (136)
125 Uzbekistan - (136)
125 Ghana - (136)
125 Jordan - (136)
125 Afghanistan - (136)
125 Scotland -
125 Uganda - (136)
125 Eritrea - (136)
125 Northern Ireland - (102)
125 Saudi Arabia - (120)
125 Kuwait - (130)
125 Bahrain - (136)

Japan could win a match against Germany, but not much else in my opinion, so yeah back to the qualifiers. Can't see South Korea doing much either. Exchange China for either Japan or South Korea, it is the same in my opinion.

USA basically has to beat Poland in all 4 of their matches to go to finals and against Puerto Rico too.

Argentina, Finland and Egypt will be in a huge fight for second in Group C.

"brahmin, can you explain me why an Asian team will go through as the Netherlands is a clear European team ? I mean, come on, we all know why the Japanese f***ers are in."

Numbers for one, 9 teams from Europe vs. 7 from rest of World (excluding Japan addition)

China lost to Puerto Rico in 2nd round of eliminations, meaning that they were relegated and Japan was best placed promotable team.

FIVB had the following rankings for the qualifications of 2011 World League (my ranking system in parenthesis) on July 27, 2010

China 10th (16) eliminated round 2
Japan 12th (14) eliminated round 2
Portugal 42nd (26) eliminated round 1
Puerto Rico 17th (25)
South Korea 16th (17)
Tunisia 22nd (33) eliminated round 1

FIVB has good relations with Japanese Volleyball Association as well.

Japan got in because because they were the best Asian team at the World Championships for Men. Iran, China and Australia all were out after the first round. This my opinion but that is probably the reasoning.

I beg to differ on the group stage, three matches for each group is more exciting than the two that we had previously. Plus with the 3,2,1 points system it is more exciting. There is really no difference in the time needed for the tournament. 3 days group (3 days old way), 2 days semis and finals. Maybe a break between semis and last group game.

Other 3 teams would be based on 2nd place by points won (3,2,1), then pts ratio.

So if we play 4 parts (quarters), what happens if the score is tied? Is it the winner of each quarter, or the total of four quarters? Do you still have to win by two?

It is an incredibly slippery slope if you change it to quarters. Right now, you have teams win by at least 6 points in a three set match, will 4 quarter matches be close? How many timeouts do coaches get in a match 2, 4, 6 or 8?

What about moving the attack line back .5 meter? Changes back row attacking a bit.

Or bringing back net calls on the defense when then hit the net when not involved in the play. Getting rid of the let serve.

When I played club volleyball 20 years ago, the ball handling rules where much stricter with overhead passes. The ball could rotate a tad, now it can look like a helicopter and not be a double hit.

Shorten sets to 21, but still play a best of 5. Or shorten sets to 15, but play 4 of 7.

Are they looking to get within 2 hours for TV? Three and four set matches right now are under 2 hours for men. Only in the women's game do 4 set matches go over two hours.

It also helps that they have good teams in Poland to give a good showing in the event as well.

My rankings will not change with the results of today's matches for the Men. Here is the top 40, with my ranking for their starting position for 2010 in parenthesis

1. Brazil (1)
2. Russia (3)
3. Cuba (6)
4. USA (2)
5. Serbia (7)
6. Italy 8
7. Poland (4)
8. Bulgaria (5)
9. Argentina (11)
10. France (9)
11. Germany (15)
12. Finland (12)
13. Japan (10)
14. Netherlands (17)
15. Egypt (16)
16. China (14)
17. South Korea (13)
18. Spain 18
19. Puerto Rico (21)
20. Czech Republic (24)
21. Iran (20)
22. Venezuela (19)
23. Slovakia (26)
24. Greece (29)
25. Belgium (31)
26. Australia (22)
27. Mexico (27)
28. Portugal (30)
29. Slovenia (36)
30. Canada (23)
31. Estonia (40)
32. Cameroon (32)
33. Turkey (46)
34. Romania (35)
35. Tunisia (25)
36. Algeria 28
37. Montenegro 38
38. India (34)
39. Kazakhstan (33)
40. Belarus (43)

3rd-4th Place
Serbia 3-Italy 2

1st-2nd Place
Brazil-Cuba 3-2

11th-12th Place
Spain-France 2:3

9th-10th Place
Argentina-Czech Rep 2:3

7th-8th Place
Bulgaria-Germany 3:0

5th-6th Place
Russia-USA 2:3

Semifinals

SRB 1-3 CUB
ITA 2-3 BRA

Semifinals (5th-8th place)

RUS 3-1 BUL
USA 3-0 GER

Semifinals (9th-12th place)

ARG 2-3 ESP
FRA 3-2 CZE

I am hoping that France beats Italy, because the US will go through on points ratio because they outscored the Italians in the loss yesterday.

Watched it on fromsport. The US dominated at the net, slipped a bit in the third set after jumping out to the lead by 6 pts. Just have to beat Italy and they are in the semifinals. It was their best played match of the tournament.

Bartek,

I was just trying to demonstrate what the groups could have looked like if the FIVB had used what they use with the World League for ranking. Teams are not rewarded as much for winning with 2 pts for a win in the current WC system. Plus with a loss, you already get 1 point. Serbia played a weaker lineup against Canada and did not pay for it. They finished second, but with the 3,2,1 system, they would have finished third.

Also teams are not rewarded for getting to a fifth set. Japan advanced because of better pts ratio, while winning fewer sets than Egypt and Iran and having a worse sets ratio. If the FIVB used the 3,2,1 pts system, Japan goes home after the first round, which in my opinion seemed fair.

I have sat on the sidelines watching and agree with most of what everything that people are saying about losing to miss certain opponents in the next round. The format that the tournament organizers is very different by not carrying over wins and losses from round one. If they had gone with the format that they were using in the women's tournament, there would have been 3 matches a day in each city as opposed to two in the first round. Plus with the second round, you are looking at four matches in each city. From a fan standpoint and ticket sales standpoint, the two matches means that the arenas are fuller on screen, which is something that FIVB wants to show for the sport and sponsors.

I looked at the breakout of the teams by groups and only one group has had teams that had played each other already. Cuba and Spain in Pool B & now Pool Q. The teams may have been sandbagging, but they still have not faced the same team until the semifinals (1-4,5-8,9-12).

Volleyball in my opinion is easy to throw a match from a starting lineup standpoint, but players still will go out and play, so the only way that a player can throw a match is with serving because you can control whether you put the ball in the court (unless you jumpserve!). Even then if you miss one serve, you are done for that serving rotation. Your teammates will still control your fate, let alone your opponents.

Brazil and Bulgaria had each won their first match in the second round, so they both advanced and realistically they said that we don't want to play Russia early. The only ways that the FIVB gets around the problem is to do the following:

After 1st round, reseed the teams based on points from matches won, points ratio, sets ratio. Redraw the groups. Do the same after the 2nd round. Or go with 3 pts for a 3-0 or 3-1 win, 2 pts for a 3-2 win, 1 pt for a 2-3 loss and 0 pts for a 3-0 or 3-1 loss.

After the 1st round, here is the seeding (without 3,2,1 pts system)
6 pts: Italy, Russia, France, Poland, Cuba, USA
5 pts: Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Czech Rep
4 pts: Serbia, Bulgaria, Spain, Egypt, Mexico, Japan, Germany, Cameroon

Serbia, Bulgaria are moved into the 5 pts group to make it 6 teams. The randomness of the redraw would be who gets Serbia or Brazil in the second round, let alone which of the good teams do you face from the 6 pts. Yes this is not good for the fans because they cannot do their travel arrangements when planning on attending the tournament. However, the quality of the matches outweighs the attending fans.

With 3, 2, 1 pts system
Group A:
Italy: 8
Egypt: 4
Iran: 4 *
Japan: 2 *

Group B:
Brazil: 7 (higher pts ratio) *
Cuba: 7 *
Spain: 4
Tunisia: 0

Group C:
Russia: 8
Puerto Rico: 7
Cameroon: 3
Australia: 0

Group D:
USA: 8
Argentina: 6
Mexico: 4
Venezuela: 0

Group E:
France: 7 (higher pts ratio)
Czech Rep: 7
Bulgaria: 4
China: 0

Group F:
Poland: 8
Germany: 4 *
Serbia: 3 (higher pts ratio) *
Canada: 3

* changed position with 3,2,1 pts system

New 2nd round groups
Group G: Italy, Serbia, Puerto Rico *
Group H: Brazil, Germany, Mexico *
Group I: Russia, Egypt, Spain
Group L: USA, Cameroon, Czech Rep
Group M: France, Iran, Argentina *
Group N: Poland, Bulgaria, Cuba *

* changed from actual

Potential 3rd round groups
Group O: Italy (Serbia), USA, Argentina (France)
Group P: Brazil, France (Argentina), Spain
Group Q: Russia, Poland (Bulgaria or Cuba), Germany
Group R: Czech Rep, Serbia (Italy), Bulgaria or Cuba (Poland)

Does this look better than what we had?

After Second Round of the FIVB Men's World Championship, here is my ranking of the teams

1. Brazil
2. Russia
3. Cuba
4. USA
5. Serbia
6. Italy
7. Poland XX
8. Bulgaria
9. France
10. Germany
11. Argentina
13. Japan XX
15. Egypt XX
16. China X
18. Spain
19. Puerto Rico XX
20. Iran X
21. Venezuela X
22. Czech Republic
26. Australia X
27. Mexico XX
30. Canada X
32. Cameroon XX
35. Tunisia X

X Eliminated after first round
XX Eliminated after second round

Pool O
04.10 FRA-USA 1:3
05.10 USA-ITA 1:3
06.10 ITA-FRA 3:1
Pool P
04.10 SRB-ARG 3:1
05.10 RUS-SRB 3:2
06.10 RUS-ARG 3:0
Pool Q
04.10 ESP-BUL 1:3
05.10 CUB-SPA 3:0
06.10 CUB-BUL 3:2
Pool R
04.10 CZE-BRA 1:3
05.10 GER-CZE 1:3
06.10 GER-BRA 0:3

After first round, here are my views I was surprised that the US had problems with Mexico in the first game, but over came them to advance.

Japan is just lucky to be in the second round. They are in a group that could get them to the third round. If they beat Argentina???

Cuba is playing really well and should sweep their group. Serbia should have taken the Canada more seriously and almost paid for it.

Poland took care of business in group F and get rewarded with Brazil and Bulgaria. Should beat Bulgaria, but not Brazil.

Two African teams into the second round!!! Egypt should be Spain to go to third round.

Asian volleyball for men has reached a new low. Iran or Japan would have been the only ones to go through because they were in the same group.

After First Round of the FIVB Men's World Championship, here is my ranking of the teams

1. Brazil
2. Russia
3. Cuba
4. USA
5. Poland
6. Serbia
7. Italy
8. Bulgaria
9. France
10. Germany
11. Argentina
13. Japan
15. Egypt
16. China X
18. Spain
19. Puerto Rico
20. Iran X
21. Venezuela X
25. Australia X
26. Mexico
29. Czech Republic
30. Canada X
34. Tunisia X
36. Cameroon

X Eliminated after first round

September 30
Group G
Puerto Rico-Germany 1:3
Group H
Cuba-Serbia 3:1
Group I
Russia-Egypt 3:0
Group L
USA-Czech Republic 3:1
Group M
France-Argentina 3:1
Group N
Poland-Brazil 1:3

October 1
Group G
Germany-Italy 0:3
Group H
Mexico-Cuba 0:3
Group I
Spain-Russia 0:3
Group L
Cameroon-USA 0:3
Group M
Japan-France 0:3
Group N
Bulgaria-Poland 1:3

October 2
Group G
Italy-Puerto Rico 3:0
Group H
Serbia-Mexico 3:0
Group I
Egypt-Spain 3:2
Group L
Czech Republic-Cameroon 3:0
Group M
Argentina-Japan 3:2
Group N
Brazil-Bulgaria 3:1

September 25

Group A
Italy-Japan 3:0
Egypt-Iran 3:0

Group B
Brazil-Tunisia 3:0
Spain-Cuba 0:3

Group C
Russia-Cameroon 3:0
Australia-Puerto Rico 1:3

Group D
Venezuela-Argentina 1:3
USA-Mexico 3:0

Group E
France-Czech Rep 3:0
Bulgaria-China 3:0

Group F
Poland-Canada 3:0
Germany-Serbia 1:3

September 26

Group A
Iran-Japan 1:3
Egypt-Italy 0:3

Group B
Tunisia-Cuba 0:3
Brazil-Spain 3:0

Group C
Cameroon-Puerto Rico 0:3
Russia-Australia 3:0

Group D
Argentina-Mexico 3:0
Venezuela-USA 0:3

Group E
Czech Rep-China 1:3
France-Bulgaria 1:3

Group F
Canada-Serbia 0:3
Poland-Germany 3:1

September 27

Group A
Italy-Iran 3:0
Japan-Egypt 2:3

Group B
Spain-Tunisia 3:0
Cuba-Brazil 1:3

Group C
Australia-Cameroon 3:0
Puerto Rico-Russia 0:3

Group D
USA-Argentina 3:0
Mexico-Venezuela 0:3

Group E
Bulgaria-Czech Rep 3:0
China-France 1:3

Group F
Germany-Canada 3:0
Serbia-Poland 3:2