RESULTS DAY 2:
USA 3x2 BELGIUM (25-22, 15-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-11)
JAPAN 3x0 SINGAPUR (25-9, 25-16, 25-9)
There were some problems between USA and Belgium coaches: 'coaches disagreed to each other's behavior"
Today's matches:
Japan vs Peru
USA vs Egypt.
All games can be watched live here:
DAY 1
GROUP A
PERU 3x0 SINGAPORE (25-11, 25-13, 25-12)
GROUP B
BELGIUM 3xO EGYPT (25-10, 25-12, 25-11)
TODAY'S GAMES:
BELGIUM vs USA
JAPAN vs SINGAPORE
CALENDAR:
AUG 21
SINGAPORE vs PERU
BEL vs EGYPT
AUG 22
SINGAPORE vs JAPAN
BEL vs USA
AUG 23
PERU vs JAPAN
USA vs EGYPT
Heavy favorite for gold medal are Belgium and USA.
However Belgium lost her best player to an injury:
BELGIUM'S hopes of winning the Youth Olympic Games girls' volleyball
title have been dealt a major blow - their skipper Lise van Hecke, 17,
has pulled out with a knee injury.
The European youth champions are ranked sixth in the world,
the highest-ranked girls' team in the YOG, and are the hot favourites
for the gold.
But how significant will the 1.86m-tall Lise's absence be
for Belgium? Coach Julien van de Vyver summed it up in a single sentence
over the phone: 'We have nobody who can replace her.'
One only needs to look at Lise's individual accolades to see why.
Last year, she not only helped her country to beat Serbia
3-1 in the European Youth Championship final and land their first
European title but was also named the tournament's Best Scorer, Best
Spiker, and Most Valuable Player.
The team then went on to win the bronze at the world championship in Thailand, where Lise was also named Best Spiker.
Still, van de Vyver believes that his charges can clinch gold in Singapore.
Said the veteran coach of 20 years: 'We are weakened, but we
have a lot of international experience. We will have to change and
reorganise our game. We know how to do it.'
He continued: 'This team have progressed a lot in the last
five years. The players fight for every ball, are very enthusiastic, and
are quite aggressive with good control skills.'
Belgium will be banking on three key players - the
1.82m-tall Laura Heyrman, who will play as a middle blocker, libero
Sophie van Nimmen and van de Vyver's daughter Ilka, who was named the
Best Setter at last year's European Youth Championship.
Although the squad are one of the most talented youth teams
to come out of Belgium in years, the girls will face stiff competition
from the United States, Peru and Japan when in Singapore.
World No. 5 Japan are the Asian qualifiers while South American winners Peru beat world No.1 Brazil to qualify for the YOG.
Said van de Vyver: 'We have met these teams at international
competitions, so we know what they can do. Japan, for instance, are
fast, skilful, aggressive and strong in defence. They don't make many
fouls.'
At the YOG, for both boys and girls, the teams will be
divided into two groups. Following the round-robin stages, the top two
teams will progress into the semi-finals. The last team from each group
will battle for fifth spot.
Italy plays with a little bit of a B-team but they destroyed Domincans in the first set
I thought DOM will play better especially loooking at htier results this year in tournaments held in America
Well, Dominican Republic is without their 4 best players right now: Dela Cruz, Annerys Vargas, and spectacular libero Castillo.
And they included 2 players coming out from injuries, so it's not a surprise these results.
If you see the roster, most of the players are U-21 and U-19.
This is an update of Safronova's condition:
Zinich: state Safronova remains stable heavy.
General
Director of Moscow's volleyball club Dynamo Vladimir Zinich commented
on the current state of Natalia Safronova, which on Thursday is in the
Institute Sklifosovsky.
Status Natalia still hard but stable ", - said Zinich in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Recall that Safronova identified problems with the vessels of the brain. Currently, she is unconscious. Physicians Russia's leading hospitals reflect on further action to save her life.
MOSCOW, December 7 - RIA Novosti. Doctors
Institute Sklifosovsky still trying to determine the nature of the
disease volleyball team of Natalia Safronova, told RIA Novosti general
director of the Moscow Dynamo Vladimir Zinich.
On
Wednesday, December 3, 30-year-old athlete has lost consciousness on
the training team and the capital was urgently taken first to a medical
center Bronstein, located near the base of Dynamo, and then in the
Sklifosovsky Institute. Since that time, Safronov is in the neurosurgical intensive care department.
Status
Natalia remains stable heavy, - said Zinich. - Accurate diagnosis, I
can not name, I can only say that the problem is related to cerebral
vessels. Doctors are now trying to ascertain the nature of the disease,
which caused such a state, as well as any prerequisites in the formSafronov - World Champion 2006 in the national team of Russia.
Forward Moscow "Dynamo" and national team of Russia Natalia Safronova
hospitalized in serious condition in the Institute Sklifosovsky. Accurate diagnosis is not yet known.
As Sportbox.ru told the press service of Volleyball Federation of Russia,
on Thursday at the training Safronova became ill and she fainted after
that and was taken to hospital. According to unconfirmed reports, 30-year-old volleyball player is in a coma.
In the national team of Russia Safronova won the 2006 world championship
and 1998 and 2002 won a bronze medal in the tournament, became a silver
medalist in Athens 2004. Four times won the championship of Russia.
Hola Miguel! Welcome to the forum.
I'm sure you will enjoy your staying here.
Brazil won with the reserve team. This same team is in a position to win the South American. To see how weak and the sport in the continent.
Well, let's be honest, Brazil with the reserve team would also have won Norceca and Asia tournament. And it's not about the rest being weak, it's about Brazil being really strong.
Korea again?????
That's totally ridiculous. FIVB are making this Grand Champions Cup to look like a joke.
It's very sad to see how they (fivb) are looking only for money rather than fair competiveness among the best teams in the world. There are at least 10 teams that deserve this wild card. Why Korea? Really dissapointing.
Pinedo and Boscacci are really good players. Pinedo has a very strong and reliable service and Boscacci was the best scorer in the last tournament.
Argentina will play some friendly matches against club Finassa starting next thursday to get in shape.
Peru will include three young and inexperienced players in the main roster and that will definitely be an advantage for their opponents. It's funny to see in peruavian team three players each over 30 years old, and the other three each under 20 years old. 
Display MoreI disagree with you Celso. Peru will not go with the full force to the South American championship compared to what they had in the qualifications.
Their best player (middle player Zamudio) is recovering from an injury and will be absent. And the other middle player Uribe has been punished because of Uribe decided not play some friendly matches against Cuba. Finally Milagros Moy decided to retire from National team. These three absences will decrease the chances to fight at least for the second place.
On the other hand, Argentina and Venezuela will participate with their best rosters.
Remember that Argentina has been able to steal one set from mighty brazilians in their last two matches they played each other. They are a strong team but for some reason still mentally weak when they face Peru.
My prediction will go:
1.Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Peru / Venezuela
Thailand completed one of the biggest surprises in Asian championship by beating China!
THAILAND 3x1 CHINA (20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-23)
THAILAND CHAMPION!!
Indeed this tournament is organized by south america / peruvian federation.
Here is the official website of II Final Four, to see rosters, scores, etc. , but I'm afraid mainly in spanish with some info in english
Brasil proved to be strong to Peru 3-0: 25-21, 25-13, 25-15
USA beat Dominicans 3-1: 25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 26-25
Even tough Brazil is playing with reserve players like Ana Tiemi, Joycinha; Sassá, Regiane; Adenízia, Carol Gattaz and libero Camila Brait. still showing great power.
Tomorrow Brazil will face USA in the final game. USA with Metcalf, Berg, Bown, Barboza, Sykora. will be a tough game.
Day#1:
Match #55 - NED 1 - 3 CHN
Match #56 - BRA 3 - 0 RUS
Match #57 - JPN 2 - 3 GER
Day#2:
Match #58 - NED 3 - 1 GER
Match #59 - BRA 3 - 0 CHN
Match #60 - JPN 3 - 2 RUS
Day#3:
Match #65 - CHN 3 - 0 RUS
Match #64 - BRA 3 - 0 GER
Match #66 - JPN 1 - 3 NED
Day#4:
Match #61 - RUS 1 - 3 GER
Match #62 - BRA 3 - 1 NED
Match #63 - JPN 1 - 3 CHN
Day#5:
Match #67 - CHN 3 - 1 GER
Match #68 - NED 3 - 1 RUS
Match #69 - JPN 0 - 3 BRA
3rd WEEK
Pool G (Hong Kong)
14.08 Poland 1x3 Netherlands
14.08 China 3x0 Dominican Rep.
15.08 Dominican Rep.0x3 Netherlands
15.08 China 3x1 Poland
16.08 Dominican Rep.3x2 - Poland
16.08 China 3x1 Netherlands
Pool H (Korea)
14.08 Korea 1x3 Germany
14.08 Japan -0x3 Brazil
15.08 Brazil 3x0 Germany
15.08 Korea 2x3 Japan
16.08 Germany 2x3 Japan
16.08 Korea 0x3 Brazil
Pool I (Thailand)
14.08 Thailand 2x3 Puerto Rico
14.08 USA 1x3 Russia
15.08 Russia 3x0 Thailand
15.08 Puerto Rico 3x2 USA
16.08 USA 3x1 Thailand
16.08 Puerto Rico 0x3 Russia
It's a hit on youtube already, for what I think is one of the best saves ever.
It happened last Saturday July 25 in Belho Horizonte, Brazil, during the crucial semifinal game between Peru and Argentina, in the South American World Championship qualification tournament.
The winner of this game was going to get the ticket to the 2010 WCH, and the loser was to be eliminated.
In the preliminary round Peru had won in a very entertaining and thrilling game 3x2. Also Argentina had proved their raising power by stealing one set to the mighty brazilians the day before.
Now in the semifinals, Second set, Peru with a 22-19 advantage and Argentina was storming back but this point decided more or less the game.
A powerful attack from the argentinians, Peru made a great effort to save the ball and then it came the third touch made by the setter Elena Keldibekova (born in Kazakhstan and playing for Peru) using her foot from the back side to pass the ball to the other side of the net, And immediately after this, a block came from Peru to seal the point (23-19) to the joyfull of peruvian players.
Peru ended up winning this set 25-22, and a global 3x0 to Argentina, getting the second ticket (along with Brazil) to Japan 2010.
Watch it for yourself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIwp8y_bOIo
Tournament in Belho Horizonte, Brazil
Robin round + Semifinal and Final:
At the end of Robin round, Semifinales will be played (1 vs 4 and 2 vs. 3)
The winner of semifinals qualify to WCH 2010.
DAY 1:
PER 3x2 ARG (16-25, 25-22, 25-19, 20-25 15-12)
BRA 3x0 VEN (25-14, 25-16, 25-17)
DAY 2:
PER 3x1 VEN (18-25, 25-17, 25-11, 25-17)
BRA 3x1 ARG (20-25, 25-11, 25-17, 25-14)
Pool A (Brazil)
31.07 Brazil 3x0- Puerto Rico
31.07 Germany 3x1 USA
01.08 Brazil 3x0 Germany
01.08 Puerto Rico 1x3 USA
02.08 Brazil 3x0 USA
02.08 Puerto Rico 1x3 Germany
Pool B (Poland)
31.07 Poland 3x0 Thailand
31.07 Japan 2x3 Netherlands
01.08 Poland 1x3 Netherlands
01.08 Thailand.1x3 Japan
02.08 Poland 3x2 Japan
02.08 Netherlands 3x0 Thailand
Pool C (China)
31.07 Russia 3x1 Korea
31.07 China 3x1 Dominican Rep.
01.08 Dominican Rep. 3x2 Russia
01.08 China 3x1 Korea
02.08 Korea 1x3 Dominican Rep.
02.08 China 3x1 Russia
It seems the Brasil , Belgium, Serbia and Turkey will be the semifinalist.
For serbian fanatics, today the match Serbia vs Peru will be broadcasted live at 03:30 GMT
