ITALY AND RUSSIA QUALIFY FOR THE LAST EIGHT IN MEN’S AND WOMEN’S DRAW
Olympic Games 2004 preview
Athens/Luxembourg, August 24, 2004. Italy and Russia as well as Brazil and the USA are the only nations after the pool rounds of the Olympic Games Volleyball competition in Athens’ Peace and Friendship Stadium who are still represented in both gender draws. Also the men’s national teams of Serbia Montenegro, Greece and Poland qualified from Pool A.
Even though the German and Greek ladies’ teams both won their first pool
round matches with Germany surprisingly defeating defending champion
Cuba 17:15 in the tiebreak set and host Greece dominating Kenya 3:0,
they both missed out on qualifying for the quarterfinal round, finishing
fifth in their pools. It had still looked promising for Germany when
they beat the Dominican Republic in straight sets during the final pool
rounds, but then the United States, occupying last place up until the
final fifth pool encounter, thrashed Cuba 3:0 to take over Germany’s
fourth position due to a better set ratio. “We are so happy”, American
star Prikeba Phipps said. “A few hours before the match we were very
anxious about the result, but we grouped together as a team and our
aggressive and determined play finally secured us a place in the
quarterfinals.” The Americans now join China, Russia and Cuba who
finished first, second and third respectively in preliminary Pool B in
the main draw knock-out phase.
When Japan defeated Kenya in Pool A
during the final women’s pool round it destroyed all hope of home team
Greece qualifying for the best eight. The final match against Italy was
a mere formality which the latter won in three clear sets (25:19, 25:19,
25:22), finishing second in Pool A behind 2000 bronze medallist Brazil,
who were the only team to overcome 2002 world champion Italy in the
preliminary rounds (3:2). Whilst the Italian girls, coached by Marco
Bonitta, face number three of Pool B Cuba, Russian head coach Nikolai
Karpol’s protégées will fight against Korea for a place in the
semi-finals.
Whilst the women’s pool competition already finished on
Sunday the final eight men’s teams to qualify for the quarterfinal round
were only completed last night when Poland beat Argentina, thus joining
the already seven qualified national men’s teams of defending champion
Serbia Montenegro, host Greece, Argentina from Pool A as well as the
four best from Pool B, namely reigning world champion Brazil, Italy,
Russia and the USA. “I am very pleased”, Polish head coach Stanislaw
Gosciniak said, “Despite the fact that we lost two sets and Sebastian
Swiderski to injury, we managed to continue to the next phase.” After
having lost their opening match to Poland, the 2000 gold medallist
Serbia Montenegro strove through the remaining four preliminary
encounters fairly easily, only conceding another three sets. Greece
caused a surprise by beating the Polish formation 3:1 followed by a
five-set-victory over France. “We were lacking unity as a team”, French
head coach Philippe Blain explained, “Our defense was weak therefore we
were beaten by a good Greek team”. The Dutch team coached by Bert
Goedkoop finished with a disappointing fifth place after they lost the
key match to the USA in straight sets. “We had greater expectations from
the Olympic Games 2004”, commented Richard Schuil after the Dutch beat
Australia 3:0 in the no longer significant final pool round, “I am very
disappointed because this was my last match for the national team in the
Olympic Games and I don’t think that the eight qualified teams are the
best of the competition.”
Brazil stormed through the
preliminary Pool B rounds only facing difficulty against world number
two Italy in a five-set-thriller which ended 33:31 in Brazilian favour.
Even though the Brazilians lost the final irrelevant pool encounter
against the United States they remained pool leader, now facing number
four from Pool A, Poland. 2003 European Champion Italy finished second
in Pool B, leading the US boys and 2000 silver medallist Russia.
For further Olympic information please consult
www.fivb.com
Olympic Games, Athens, Greece
Results Men Preliminary
Pool A
|
SCG - POL |
0:3 |
21:25, 17:25, 16:25 |
|
ARG - FRA |
3:0 |
25:15, 25:23, 25:22 |
|
TUN - GRE |
0:3 |
20:25, 14:25, 17:25 |
|
TUN - ARG |
2:3 |
20:25, 25:23, 16:25, 25:22, 10:15 |
|
FRA - SCG |
0:3 |
21:25, 28:30, 22:25 |
|
GRE - POL |
3:1 |
21:25, 25:18, 25:21, 25:20 |
|
POL - FRA |
0:3 |
15:25, 18:25, 17:25 |
|
SCG - TUN |
3:0 |
25:16, 25:18, 25:21 |
|
ARG - GRE |
3:1 |
16:25, 25:21, 25:22, 25:22 |
|
TUN - POL |
1:3 |
18:25, 25:23, 19:25, 23:25 |
|
ARG - SCG |
1:3 |
25:21, 17:25, 21:25, 23:25 |
|
GRE - FRA |
3:2 |
25:22, 14:25, 26:24, 23:25, 15:10 |
|
FRA - TUN |
3:1 |
25:23, 18:25, 25:19, 25:19 |
|
POL - ARG |
3:2 |
25:19, 25:22, 23:25, 22:25, 20:18 |
|
SCG - GRE |
3:2 |
21:25, 38:36, 25:13, 23:25, 15:12 |
Pool B
|
NED - RUS |
3:2 |
25:23, 19:25, 17:25, 27:25, 18:16 |
|
BRA - AUS |
3:1 |
23:25, 25:19, 25:12, 25:21 |
|
ITA - AUS |
3:1 |
25:21, 21:25, 25:17, 25:23 |
|
AUS - RUS |
0:3 |
17:25, 24:26, 23:25 |
|
USA - NED |
3:0 |
26:24, 25:20, 25:18 |
|
BRA - ITA |
3:2 |
25:21, 15:25, 25:16, 21:25, 33:31 |
|
ITA - AUS |
3:0 |
25:20, 25:18, 25:21 |
|
NED - BRA |
1:3 |
22:25, 26:24, 21:25, 19:25 |
|
RUS - USA |
3:1 |
22:25, 25:20, 25:16, 25:23 |
|
AUS - USA |
1:3 |
19:25, 25:23, 13:25, 19:25 |
|
ITA - NED |
3:0 |
25:19, 25:21, 25:20 |
|
BRA - RUS |
3:0 |
25:19, 25:13, 25:23 |
|
RUS - ITA |
3:2 |
25:16, 25:22, 22:25, 23:25, 15:13 |
|
NED - AUS |
3:0 |
25:22, 25:17, 25:16 |
|
USA - BRA |
3:1 |
25:22, 25:23, 18:25, 25:22 |
Final Pool Ranking Men
|
Pool A |
Pool B |
|
1. Serbia Montenegro |
1. Brazil |
|
2. Greece |
2. Italy |
|
3. Argentina |
3. USA |
|
4. Poland |
4. Russia |
|
5. France |
5. Netherlands |
|
6. Tunisia |
6. Australia |
Results Women Preliminary
Pool A
|
JPN - BRA |
0:3 |
21:25, 22:25, 21:25 |
|
GRE - KEN |
3:0 |
25:7, 25:22, 25:14 |
|
KOR - ITA |
0:3 |
17:25, 13:25, 19:25 |
|
KEN - BRA |
0:3 |
16:25, 27:29, 12:25 |
|
ITA - JPN |
3:0 |
25:16, 25:13, 25:17 |
|
GRE - KOR |
1:3 |
25:20, 19:25, 15:25, 22:25 |
|
KOR - KEN |
3:0 |
25:16, 25:20, 25:19 |
|
JPN - GRE |
3:1 |
25:10, 20:25, 25:21, 25:22 |
|
BRA - ITA |
3:2 |
19:25, 25:13, 22:25, 25:16, 15:13 |
|
KOR - JPN |
3:0 |
25:21, 26:24, 25:21 |
|
GRE - BRA |
0:3 |
22:25, 22:25, 11:25 |
|
KEN - ITA |
0:3 |
17:25, 13:25, 14:25 |
|
JPN - KEN |
3:0 |
25:8, 25:17, 25:14 |
|
ITA - GRE |
3:0 |
25:19, 25:19, 25:22 |
|
BRA - KOR |
3:0 |
25:19, 25:18, 25:23 |
Pool B
|
CUB - GER |
2:3 |
25:20, 26:24, 22:25, 15:25, 15:17 |
|
DOM - RUS |
0:3 |
17:25, 13:25, 16:25 |
|
CHN - USA |
3:1 |
25:21, 23:25, 25:22, 25:18 |
|
CHN - DOM |
3:0 |
25:20, 25:16, 25:16 |
|
USA - GER |
3:1 |
25:22, 25:22, 22:25, 27:25 |
|
RUS - CUB |
2:3 |
24:26, 25:19, 27:25, 19:25, 13:15 |
|
DOM - USA |
3:2 |
26:24, 22:25, 27:25, 23:25, 19:17 |
|
CUB - CHN |
3:2 |
25:19, 22:25, 5:25, 25:21, 15:13 |
|
GER - RUS |
0:3 |
29:31, 11:25, 18:25 |
|
CHN - GER |
3:0 |
25:18, 25:15, 25:16 |
|
DOM - CUB |
0:3 |
23:25, 17:25, 23:25 |
|
USA - RUS |
2:3 |
25:20, 17:25, 25:20, 18:25, 11:15 |
|
GER - DOM |
3:0 |
25:16, 25:19, 25:21 |
|
RUS - CHN |
0:3 |
15:25, 16:25, 26:28 |
|
CUB - USA |
0:3 |
22:25, 12:25, 19:25 |
Final Pool Ranking Women
|
Pool A |
Pool B |
|
1. Brazil |
1. China |
|
2. Italy |
2. Russia |
|
3. Korea |
3. Cuba |
|
4. Japan |
4. USA |
|
5. Greece |
5. Germany |
|
6. Kenya |
6. Dominican Republic |
Further Match Schedule (CET)
|
Tuesday, 24 August |
13.00 |
4th Quarterfinal Women: JPN - CHN |
|
15.00 |
2nd Quarterfinal Women: KOR - RUS |
|
|
18.30 |
3rd Quarterfinal Women: ITA - CUB |
|
|
20.30 |
1st Quarterfinal Women: BRA - USA |
|
|
Wednesday, 25 August |
13.00 |
1st Quarterfinal Men: SCG - RUS |
|
15.00 |
2nd Quarterfinal Men: ARG - ITA |
|
|
18.30 |
3rd Quarterfinal Men: GRE - USA |
|
|
20.30 |
4th Quarterfinal Men: POL - BRA |
|
|
Thursday, 26 August |
18.30 |
1st Semifinal Women |
|
20.30 |
2nd Semifinal Women |
|
|
Friday, 27 August |
18.30 |
1st Semifinal Men |
|
20.30 |
2nd Semifinal Men |
|
|
Saturday, 28 August |
17.00 |
Bronze Medal Match Women |
|
19.00 |
Final Women |
|
|
Sunday, 29 August |
11.30 |
Bronze Medal Match Men |
|
13.30 |
Final Men |
More on the web at www.cev.lu
Enjoy & Be There:
14-25 August 2004: Olympic Games
Beach Volleyball, Athens, Greece.
14-29 August 2004: Olympic
Games Volleyball, Athens, Greece.
2 September 2004: Drawing
of Lots 2004-2005 Indesit European Champions’ League, Vienna, Austria.
3-5 September 2004: NEVZA Boys Under 19 & Under 17, Falköping , Sweden.
3-5 September 2004: NEVZA Girls Under 19 & Under 17, Copenhagen, Denmark.
3-5 September 2004: Balkan Championships Senior Beach Volleyball Women,
Costanta, Romania.
3-11 September 2004: Women’s Under 19
European Championships, Bardejov, Presov, Slovakia.
4-10
September 2004: Balkan Championships Youth Boys, Budva, Serbia
Montenegro.
4-12 September 2004: Men’s Under 20 European
Championships, Zagreb, Croatia.
8-12 September 2004:
European Championship Tour Senior Beach Volleyball, Spanish Open,
Valencia, Spain.
17-19 September 2004: European
Championships Women Category A Qualification Tournaments, Various.
21-26 September 2004: 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix European Qualification,
Ankara, Turkey.
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