It has long been known that appetite comes with eating. Even if it refers not to a magnificent feast, but to sports competitions. The Russian men's volleyball team is playing in an experimental lineup in the current World League season: not only are there many young players on the team, but some of them suffered injuries during the competition. And, despite this, the Russian team, unexpectedly for many, made it to the Final Six for the first time in three years. And since the minimum task has been completed, why not dream about medals. Moreover, it seemed like it was just a stone's throw away from the semi-finals - you just had to beat the Canadian team.
Whoever can will help. Russia starts in the World League finals
The Russian men's volleyball team, having made its way through a series of trials to the Final Six, begins the fight for medals in the World League.
The Canadians in the current World League are just as much upstarts as we are. Few expected them to reach the Final Six, as the North Americans had only done so once before: in 2013, they finished fifth. However, in their first match, Canada gave Brazil good fight and lost only with a score of 1:3 - this defeat made the second match decisive for Antiga’s team. Any victory for the Russians would take them into the playoffs, leaving the Canadians behind. But it was clearly not worth counting on an easy victory, even despite the positive statistics of official matches in previous years, since the opponent had nothing to lose.
Two plays for the 25th point
From the very beginning of the match on the court, located in the bowl of a huge football stadium"Baixada" in Curitiba, an equal fight ensued. The Russian team took the lead more often, but did not break away by more than two points. Immediately the wards Shlyapnikova They showed the opponents and the spectators several beautiful attacks, but there were also mistakes - so by the first technical timeout the Canadians were leading with a score of 8:6. The first minutes of the game were clearly spent adapting: the Russian team was getting used to both the opponent and the huge stadium.
After the pause, the Canadians tried to break away, but Likhosherstov’s serve and Kurkaev’s block allowed them not only to win back the gap, but also to take the lead: the Russian team was the first to earn the 16th point: Dmitry Volkov deftly threw the ball into the opponent's half of the court. The best player in our team’s attack at that time was Klyuka, who scored a third of all points, and the Canadians felt this and began to cover Yegor more reliably, forcing him to make mistakes. In the end, the Canadians, having executed a couple of unpleasant serves, led with a score of 22:20. The Russians evened the score, but still failed to win the set: they lost 23:25. At the same time, the Canadians de facto earned the 25th point twice: the first play was canceled because the referee was in a hurry to blow the whistle.
Volleyball. , "Final Six". Curitiba, Brazil
Group stage. 2nd round
Russia – Canada – 0:3 (23:25, 27:29, 17:25)
The pressure of Klyuka alone is not enough
The second set began in the same way as the first: with a high-quality Russian block, errors on serve and the score 3:1, which turned into 3:3 after the spectacular play of the Canadians in defense. However, the continuation turned out to be more pleasant for fans of the Russian team: our team had a working block, and the Canadians made many unforced errors. By the first technical timeout, the Russians were leading with a score of 8:7, but our team’s attack still left much to be desired.
Immediately after the break, the Canadians showed the Russians how to attack, scoring four points in a row. Shlyapnikov had to take a time out, but this did not stop the Canadians: they earned their fifth point – 12:8. By the second pause, the gap was slightly reduced due to Klyuka’s pressure, but the team from North America It was clearly better: she attacked faster and more powerfully, and Vernon-Evans earned the 16th point with the first ace of the match. After a minute's respite, little changed in the game: the Russians' attack still didn't really work, and the Canadians stayed ahead quite confidently. At the very end of the game, however, for some reason they relaxed, missed two match points and even found themselves on the edge of the abyss, but a nervous and tense ending still remained for Stefan Antiga’s charges – 29:27.
Game without mood
The Russian team clearly started the third game not in better mood. Shlyapnikov needed to shake up the team, and with the score 2:5, he decided to let him onto the court Sergei Antipkin. The lead stopped growing, but by the break the Canadians still took the lead – 8:5. “They play on our mistakes. They don't create anything! We need to make fewer mistakes!” – the head coach instructed the Russian team during a pause. However, there was no way to turn the situation around: the Canadian team received well and attacked quickly: Perrin and Maar played out in earnest.
The Canadians took advantage of their chances, but the Russians continued to make mistakes. By the second break, our team was losing 11:16, and Shlyapnikov again told the players: “We are losing ourselves!” However, his players no longer seemed to believe in themselves. The attack went in and out of the block, and the Canadians were already leading 18:11. Head coach I tried to make another life-giving injection, replacing Zhigalov with Chefranov, but this replacement did not become fateful, although Alexander still earned one point on the block. The game ended with a series of mutual service errors and the very first match point converted by the Canadians. Russia, having failed to fine-tune the attack, lost to Canada with a score of 0:3 and tomorrow will try to save the situation in the match with Brazil.
The Russian men's volleyball team made it to the Final Six of the World League. Having won all three matches at the third stage of the intercontinental round, she secured her place in the six best teams and will take part in the decisive stage of the tournament, which will be held in Curitiba, Brazil on July 4-8. In total, the Russians won five victories and suffered four defeats.
Before the final match of the preliminary stage of the World League against Iran, the Russian team was teetering on the verge of getting into the top 6, but victory in it guaranteed it a ticket to the Final Six. However, just recently it seemed that the noticeably updated team of Sergei Shlyapnikov, performing in various reasons Without a number of leading players, it will not be possible to combine business with pleasure. That is, to test young people and debutants, and at the same time solve the tournament problem. Before her visit to Katowice and Lodz, she was moving on a “one win, two defeats” schedule. At home in Kazan, the Russians beat Argentina (3:0), after which they lost to France (1:3) and Bulgaria (2:3). Then in French Pau they lost to the home team (1:3) and the USA (0:3), defeating only Italy (3:2). In order to still aim at the Final Six, at the stage in Poland, Russian volleyball players had to show a 100% result. At the same time, they were faced with meetings with extremely inconvenient opponents - the Poles, who are strong in their native walls in any composition, and the Americans, who had already demonstrated how dangerous they are.
Meanwhile, during this World League, Shlyapnikov had to face additional and serious difficulties. Health problems arose among setter Dmitry Kovalev and the main players - Dmitry Volkov, Egor Klyuka, Denis Biryukov. Second diagonal Alexander Kimerov was out of action, and blocker Ilya Vlasov was injured in the game against Poland. It seems that there was not a single match in which the head coach of the national team could use a full rotation. In such a situation, of course, it is difficult to make any claims about the quality of volleyball, and at times it left much to be desired. And yet. For example, the Russians were practically unable to oppose France, although this team also underwent significant personnel changes and key positions were taken by newcomers or yesterday's substitutes - in particular, diagonal Stéphane Boyer, finishing players Trevor Cleveno and Julien Linel. Probably, too many troubles were caused to the Russian national team by the Americans, who are also now actively pushing young players into the fold - Benjamin Patch, Tory Defalco, Jeffrey Jendrick - and began the 2017 World League with three defeats, including from Canada and Belgium. And the experimenting Italy, which took the last, 12th place in Group 1, was defeated by Shlyapnikov’s players in only five games, despite the fact that the opponent then made 46 (!) mistakes.
On the other hand, one cannot fail to note the obvious positive, which indicates the difficult, but still growth of the team. During the preliminary stage she spent two very good match- in Kazan with the Argentines at the very start and in Katowice with the Poles just at the third stage of the intercontinental round. The Russians broke the resistance of the reigning world champions, who were supported by eight and a half thousand spectators, in three sets (25:22, 25:17, 25:21). The most points were scored by the diagonal Maxim Zhigalov (16), the above-mentioned Volkov (13) and Klyuka (11), who play the leading roles in the current team (plus, of course, the passing Kovalev). They also became the most productive in the next match against the USA, which took place in Lodz. Klyuka (22 points), Zhigalov (17) and Volkov (12) did a lot for the victory (31:29, 17:25, 25:19, 27:29, 15:13), but the supporting players also made their contribution - Sergei Antipkin and Egor Feoktistov, who successfully came on as substitutes. The six points on the block of Ilyas Kurkaev (he has 11 in total) also earned respect. In principle, a tiebreaker experience (the meeting lasted almost three hours), especially a successful one, is also necessary for this team. Fortunately, she didn’t forget to beat Iran yesterday. Moreover, the Russian volleyball players snatched the first game on a triple set point from their opponent (26:24, 25:18, 25:18). Vadim Likhosherstov, who replaced the injured Vlasov, already felt more confident and tormented his opponents with an insidious planning serve. And the other blocker - Kurkaev - reigned in the center of the net (11 points).
Reaching the Final Six of the World League is a great achievement for the Russian team, especially under the current circumstances. Suffice it to say that in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, having a much stronger roster in terms of names, it was unable to qualify for the decisive stage of the tournament. Sergei Shlyapnikov reversed the trend unworthy of domestic volleyball, and now he will again be presented at such high level. Moreover, new Russian team Obviously, such a check would not hurt either.
Now our team needs to beat the Americans
Brazil - Russia - 3:2 (20:25, 21:25, 25:22, 25:23, 15:12)
|
Douglas |
13 |
Klyuka |
11 |
|
Lucas |
12 |
Kurkaev |
8 |
|
Wallace |
21 |
Mikhailov |
19 |
|
Lipe |
15 |
Volkov |
23 |
|
Mauricio Sousa |
1 |
Musersky |
17 |
|
Bruno |
1 |
Butko |
1 |
|
Tales |
(l) |
Verbov |
(l) |
|
Mike |
(l) |
Poletaev |
|
|
Evandru |
Berezhko |
||
|
William |
Grankin |
||
|
Isaac |
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Kadu |
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Lucas Loch |
WITHudy: Maroszczek (Poland), Simonovic (Serbia).
Match time: 2.17 (28+29+30+31+19). Points scored - 106:107(attack - 56:60, block - 6:14, serve - 6:7, opponent's errors - 38:26). September 26. Turin. "Pala Alpitur".
- Brazil is one of the most coveted volleyball posters. Even neutral fans are interested in watching this confrontation - a world-class spectacle is guaranteed. And if we are talking about the “Final Six” of the World Cup, a degree of drama and intensity is added here, which makes the game a real sports feast.
Let's start for health
At the last World Cup, these two teams also played in the Final Six. And then the Brazilians destroyed our team in three games. The Russians were unable to recover from such a blow - they lost to Poland the next day and were left without a semi-final.
After this long four years, our team could not take revenge on Brazil. Until this July, when the Russians defeated the South Americans in three sets in the semi-finals of the Nations League.
This match was much more significant. This is no longer a commercial tournament, but an official one. This is where we need to answer for the failures at the 2014 World Cup.
Wards Sergei Shlyapnikov They immediately showed that they were very serious. Until the middle of the game, the guys got into the game, made a lot of mistakes, and in the end they flew away from Olympic champions. Maxim Mikhailov got back from the block, Ilyas Kurkaev filed for departure, and then demonstrated miracles of coordination Dmitry Musersky- the blocker, with his 218 cm height, managed to react to the “snot” after the serve and pick up the treacherously falling ball. Moreover, he’s from the program Alexandra Butko and slammed it into the floor. Plus three!
Then there was an incredible rescue performed by a 36-year-old Alexey Verbova. It's hard to believe that our super libero won Olympic medal back in 2004, in Athens, because it is still in great order. He put an end to the game with two “nails” Musersky.
The second game followed approximately the same scenario. There were roleplays again Mikhailova, block from Sir, super emotional glasses from Dmitry Volkov, good serve Viktor Poletaev. It didn't come to a hard ending.
William as Musersky
Same as in the third game. But, alas, it did not end in our favor. on her in starting lineup did not take the position of setter Bruno whose great Vladimir Alekno called the Brazilians the key player, and William. And the start was left to the “yellows”. 7:12!
Russia heroically caught up. Volkov punched from the hardest positions. Served powerfully Mikhailov. After his next ace, the score was even at some point - 18:18. It seemed that now our team would fly to victory on emotions. How I wanted this!
But no. The Brazilians are also no strangers. And the Russians made a number of unforced errors in the end. The key episode was the successful attack of the 34-year-old Lipe from the back line - the ball, like a bun, managed to slip through our triple block. 20:23 - and goodbye to the party.
The fourth began and involuntarily associations with a Russian comeback in the final began to appear London Olympics. Only now everything was the other way around. The Brazilians had the courage, played very quickly, their serve was flying and in defense the team pulled out incredible balls. In 2012, translation decided a lot Musersky diagonally - a step that no one expected. This time, the original coaching decision also played a role. William, who is always behind the star Bruno, and remained the main passer. And it bore fruit. With his passes, his partners hit the floor over and over again. At the same time, he served dangerously.
At the end of the game it almost came down to over-under. Volkov carried out the attack, then served for clearance and the score became 23:24. Then Dmitry took a chance again - and the ball flew over the court by a few millimeters. 2:2 in sets.
Must beat USA in three or four sets
In the tiebreaker, the Brazilians continued to play relaxed, but our team, realizing that they were losing a practically won goal, on the contrary, tightened their grip. . And today the team lost to him. If everything was fine in the first two games, then many people’s delivery went wrong and problems with execution began to arise.
I can’t say that the Russians gave up much - a number of game episodes were simply brilliant - but they still let the wounded victim go a little. And that’s all the Brazilians needed. Their chances are 100 percent. And they won a major victory in this very beautiful game.
It's a shame. But the question of reaching the semi-finals is open for us - and will be decided tomorrow. The team definitely needs to beat the Americans. Moreover, it is impossible to bring the matter to a tie-break. Otherwise there is a risk that USA And Brazil will finish the head-to-head match with a score that suits both of these teams. A Russia can't do anything about it.
It is obvious that our team has enormous playing potential. And now it just needs to be fully demonstrated in the next game. Everything is still in our hands.
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Group E |
AND |
V (TB) |
P (TB) |
WITH |
ABOUT |
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1. Brazil |
1 (1) |
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2. Russia |
1 (1) |
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3. USA |
The Russian men's volleyball team guaranteed itself access to the third group round (Final Six) of the 2018 World Championship. Finding themselves in a difficult position after an unsuccessful first stage, Sergei Shlyapnikov's team showed character and took advantage of the favor of fortune.
Lucky are those who are lucky. The Russians fulfilled difficult task. After two defeats at the 1st stage, they were able to win all three matches of the second group round. The Renaissance of the Dutch team was interrupted. The raging Italian stands calmed down in the game with the hosts. And today the second team beat the Finns, who were deprived of tournament motivation, but not courage.
The head coach of the Russians, Sergei Shlyapnikov, removed one half of the base initially, and replaced the second during the game, so in the end, an outlandish composition with Ilya Vlasov and Alexei Rodichev remained on the court. But Viktor Poletaev finally demonstrated his jumps to the stars to sunny Italy. It seems that the diagonal baby has been secretly trained by Maria Lasitskene and Sergey Shubenkov since childhood.
Despite all the rotation, the Russians only encountered problems at the end of the third game, when Rodichev faltered in his technique. Shlyapnikov's time-out corrected the situation.
The Russians did what was needed, and yet it is worth remembering Lady Luck with a kind word. Third place in the first group round brought us not into the group of death at all, but into a quartet with Holland and Finland. The almost ideal layout of the opponents' matches allowed us to get out of second place without any problems. Let us remind you that the four winners of the second round groups and two teams from second places with the best performance advance to the Final Six. The rivals divided the orange (points) so fiercely that Russia easily became one of the “lucky losers.” We are lucky at this World Cup - we need to take advantage of our luck.
The Russians' opponents in the Final Six will be determined at the end of today's matches and based on the results of the draw.
Results
World Cup 2018 (Italy, Bulgaria)
2nd group round
Russia – Finland – 3-0 (25:17, 25:19, 25:22)
Russia: Poletaev (18), Berezhko (11), Kurkaev (10), Volvich (9), Mikhailov (6), Grankin (2), Rodichev (2), Vlasov (1), Butko (1), Klyuka (1), D. Volkov (0), Sokolov (l)
Today. 22.15. Italy – Holland
Team position: 1. Italy – 6 wins/1 loss (19 points); 2. Russia – 6/2 (18); 3. Holland – 5/2 (14); 4. Finland – 2/6 (9)
Russia - Finland - 3:0 (25:17, 25:19, 25:22)
The Russians will play at least two more matches at the World Cup, which is being held in Italy and Bulgaria. Team Sergei Shlyapnikov V final match second group stage beat the Finnish team and solved the minimum problem.
No extra effort
The tournament situation before this match was such that any victory over the Finnish team would lead the team Russia to the Final Six. But even the need to win did not prevent our head coach from leaving out the game Dmitry Musersky, Dmitry Volkov And Alexey Verbov.
The Russians could afford it. Current Finnish team- not at all the team of 2007, which shone at the European Championship and could well have reached the final for the first time in its history. Wards Thomas Sammelvuo, an excellent acquaintance with Russian volleyball, were inferior to our team in everything.
The game only emphasized this. Without any extra effort, the Russians achieved victory. The majority of the time on the court was spent by those who rarely appeared in previous matches. For example, diagonal Victor Poletaev replaced Maxim Mikhailova during the first game and played until the end of the match. Finisher Alexey Rodichev changed Egor Klyuk also during the meeting, a blocker appeared for a while Ilya Vlasov. And he played in the libero position Alexander Sokolov.
But regardless of the composition, the Russians should have won confidently. And so it happened. Only at the end of the third set did our team relax enough to allow the opponent to equalize the score. Shlyapnikov I even had to take a time out and let him out for a couple of plays Volkova.
Advantage Russian national team, playing to its fullest, was colossal. Especially on the block. Only one Ilyas Kurkaev successfully covered opponents seven times. However, there is no point in analyzing statistical calculations against such a team. Victory in three games and a place in the Final Six.
🇷🇺Russia 3-0 Finland🇫🇮 (25-17, 25-19, 25-22) #volleyball pic.twitter.com/L9eqbqx6RD
Volleyball World (@FIVBVolleyball) September 23, 2018
Moved away from failure
The Russians took second place in Group E, although after the first group stage our team's position seemed rather precarious. Our volleyball players faced the need to win all three matches of the second group stage. In the first of them she was defeated, even smeared across the Milan site Holland team.
But on the eve of the game with the Finns Russian team had a tough match with the team Italy. The initiative in this meeting passed from hand to hand. The Italians took the first game, the Russians took the next two, then gave away the fourth, having a huge advantage at first. In the end, everything was decided in a tiebreaker, in which all best qualities our team has an excellent serve, a very high-quality reception, a good and fast attack and an impenetrable block.
During the block, the Italians scored only two points, the Russians - nine. Moreover, in those moments when it was most needed, when the fate of the games and the match was being decided. In those moments when the crowded 13,000-seat arena was excited by any successful action of its players. Ivan Zaitsev And Osmani Juantorena They played an excellent match overall, but the Russians were ready for such a game.
A colossal amount of effort was spent, but at the same time Russian team after this victory she no longer depended on anyone. All that was left was to beat Finland and prepare to move from Milan to Turin, where the Final Six will take place.
It is not yet known when the draw for the decisive stage of the tournament will take place. Yes and full composition participants are also unknown. Besides Russian national team teams will continue to fight for medals Serbia, Brazil, Italy And USA. The last ticket will go either Poland national team, the 2014 world champion, or the team France.
It all depends on the result of the meeting between the teams Serbia And Poland. The Poles only need a victory to continue the fight for medals. The peculiarities of the draw are such that the teams that advance to the Final Six from second place in the groups will be separated from each other. That is, the Russian team will definitely not play either with French national team, or with Serbian national team.
However, this is no longer so important. Weak opponents like Finnish national team, it definitely won’t happen at the decisive stage of the championship.
