FIVB - Media

PRESS RELEASE

Heat is on in battle for last-eight places in men's tournament

The venue of the volleyball tournament, Earls Court, will be once again filled up to full capacity on Monday as teams will be battling it out for making it to the 1/4 finals

London, Great Britain, August 5, 2012 – The final round of preliminary matches of the men's volleyball competition take place at Earls Court on Monday with quite many teams still uncertain of a place in the quarterfinals and the battle for the top positions in the preliminary groups still open after USA and Bulgaria’s winning streak was ended on Saturday by Russia and Argentina.

Australia vs. Poland

Australia will have to beat Poland to have any chance of making the quarterfinals. Australia won the first two sets against Italy in their last match before losing 3-2. Poland are top of pool A and are assured of a quarterfinal place. A 3-0 or 3-1 win should guarantee the top spot in the group to the guys mentored by Andrea Anastasi. Zbigniew Bartman and Bartosz Kurek form one of the most powerful attacking combinations in the sport and could prove too damaging for Australia.

Russia vs. Serbia

Russia beat USA 3-2 in their most recent match and currently sit third in pool B. A win will guarantee Russia a place in the quarterfinals. Serbia lost 3-2 against Brazil in the last round and are fifth in pool B. If Serbia win and Germany lose their match against Brazil, Serbia will probably progress to the quarterfinals. Russian star Maxim Mikhaylov has been in rampaging form and leads the tournament points scoring with 75. Aleksandar Atanasijevic and Marko Podrascanin have been central to Serbia’s play and loom as key for their team’s chances of progressing to the next round.

Italy vs. Bulgaria

Italy beat Australia 3-2 in their most recent match. After a slow start and losing the first two sets, Italy showed good fight to keep themselves in touch with the top teams in pool A, one of which is Bulgaria. Bulgaria lost 3-1 against Argentina on Saturday. Both sides are assured of playing in the quarterfinals, but the result of this match will decide the seeding of both teams for the knockout stage of the tournament.

Great Britain vs. Argentina

Great Britain lost 3-0 against Poland in their most recent match and are winless at the London 2012 Olympic Games. On the other hand Argentina beat previously undefeated Bulgaria in their most recent match and a win against Great Britain will assure them of a place in the quarterfinals. Great Britain cannot make the quarterfinals and have not won a set at London 2012.

USA vs. Tunisia

USA lost 3-2 against Russia in their most recent match, after leading 2-0. It was USA’s first defeat in the tournament. Tunisia lost in straight sets against Germany in the last round. Tunisia have only won one set at the Games (against Serbia) and hence USA should be too powerful and too organised for the African side.

Brazil vs. Germany

Brazil versus Germany shapes as the match of day. Brazil beat Serbia 3-2 in their last match and Germany downed Tunisia 3-0. A Brazil win will clinch their berth in the quarterfinals, while Germany must win to guarantee their place in the next stage of the competition after failing to achieve this goal four years ago in Beijing.

Download highresolution

| More

FILTERS