Pool B
May 23-25: Brazil vs. Germany; Italy vs. Portugal
May 30 June 1: Italy vs. Brazil; Portugal vs. Germany
June 6-8: Portugal vs. Brazil; Germany vs. Italy
June 13-15: Portugal vs. Italy; Germany vs. Brazil
June 20-22: Brazil vs. Italy; Germany vs. Portugal
June 26-28: Brazil vs. Portugal; Italy vs. Germany

Pool C
May 23-25: Netherlands vs. Yugoslavia; China vs. Cuba
May 30- June 1: Yugoslavia vs. China: Netherlands vs. Cuba
June 6-8: Netherlands vs. China; Cuba vs. Yugoslavia
June 13-15: Yugoslavia vs. Cuba; China vs. Netherlands
June 20-22: Cuba vs. Netherlands; China vs. Yugoslavia
June 26-28: Yugoslavia vs. Netherlands; Cuba vs. China

Pool D 
May 16-18: France vs. Argentina; Greece vs. Japan
May 23-25: France vs. Japan; Greece vs. Argentina
May 30 - June 1: Argentina vs. France; Japan vs. Greece
June 6-8: Argentina vs. Japan; Greece vs. France
June 13-15: France vs. Greece; Japan vs. Argentina
June 20-22: Argentina vs. Greece; Japan vs. France

World League finals:
Tuesday July 8 - Sunday July 13 2003

Brazil, Russia advance to final
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, Aug. 17, 2002 - Hosts and titleholders Brazil on Saturday advanced the finals of the FIVB $15 Million World League when they defeated Yugoslavia in a tough five-set first semifinal here in Brazil's third biggest city. They will meet Russia, who shut Italy out of a chance at their ninth World League title. Brazil took their match 3-2 (25-27, 25-19, 25-12, 21-25, 18-16) with the kind of Volleyball that has elevated them to one of the best teams in the world and put them in the box seat to take their second consecutive title. Russia beat Italy 3-1. "This was a real thriller," said FIVB President Rubén Acosta, here in Brazil with his wife Malu for the finals. "At times we thought that the Yugoslavs would win but they seemed to lose their rhythm and it was not enough to beat the courage of the Brazilians who were supported by more than 16,000 fans here in the stadium," he said adding, "It was a great match!" Brazilian coach Bernardo Rezende said his team had showed maturity. "It was a very tough match," he said, while super Superstar wing-spiker Giba Giba (Gilberto Godoy Fihlo) said "We had a lot of ups and downs and now we are going to study our mistakes before tomorrow's match". Thousands of euphoric fans streamed into the Mineirinho Stadium two hours before the whistle for what turned out to be the biggest Volleyball party so far of this, the richest annual event on the FIVB calendar. With Brazil now in the final the people of Belo Horizonte, the "Volleyball Capital of Brazil", will be out in force for Sunday's final. The stadium, awash with the Brazilian national colors and throbbing to music, erupted when Henrique Randow tipped the ball over the net to put Brazil on the scoreboard, but it was the Yugoslavs, spurred on by the considerable skills of Goran Vujevic, Dula Mester who went on to take a 14-11 lead with a ace by Nikola Grbic. Aerial attacks from the sure hand of Andre Nascimento and a mistake in the Yugoslavia block leveled the sides at 17-17. Brazil then went one point up after a high shot by Ivan Miljkovic landed outside the line and they applied pressure and notched up a three- point lead. Again Vujevic struck to give the Yugoslavians the lead, but Giba leveled at 23-23 and set the crowd on fire before Geric scored the winning shot to give Yugoslav the set at 27-25. The Boys from Brazil, especially Andre, Giba and Henrique, gave their team an early lead in the second. Giba and Henrique combined to block the Yugoslavs to 19-15 and an overhead smash by Gustavo and an ace by Ricardo put the Brazilians two points away from equalizing. Nalbert sealed their victory with a perfect ace for 25-19. The third set belonged to Brazil, who was unstoppable for a massive 13-point lead at the close. The Yugoslavs rallied in the fourth when their legendary fighting spirit kicked in to put them back in the match and force the thriller tiebreaker that finally fell Brazil's way 18-16. In the other semifinal, Italy took the opening set 25-23 in their match against Russia, deploying big guns Hristo Zlatanov and Alessandro Fei with the finesse of the Vermiglio. Russia, who scraped into the semifinals when Spain failed against The Netherlands in the last Pool E match, looked better in the second set for an early three point lead with setter Vadim Khamouttskikh combining harmoniously with heavyweight Roman Iakovlev to support an almost impenetrable block that saw them charge to 16-10. Russia looked a rejuvenated side in the second set with a vastly improved block that shut out the Squadra Azzurri while their coach Andre Anastasi paced like a lion on the sidelines. Serguei Tetioukhine served for the set and Italy defended the first set point but not the second, allowing Russia to equalize with 25-19. The Russians frequently powered home shots that landed at the feet of skilled players like Samuel Papi, and even overhead smashes by the usually deadly Zlatanov were cut down by the Russian defense to allow them to cruise to a 25-20 third set. By then, Italy looked rattled but a rare error by Tetioukhine gave them a 2-point lead. The sides traded points back and forth, leveling at 10-all, but the enormous reach of Alexei Koulechov was too good too often. Iakovlev gave his team match point and then blocked to give his side their place in the finals.

Brazil takes first honors after shaky start

Belo Horizonte, Brazil, August 13 - Titleholders Brazil made tough work of their opening match in the finals of the FIVB $15 Million World League against upstarts Spain who scraped into the last round finals as second fiddle to Italy, the dominant nation in this blue ribbon annual men´s Volleyball tournament.
Driven by enthusiastic local supporters in the northern city of Recife, they took the first set 25-17, but then stumbled, let their concentration slip and allowed Spain to equalize 1-1 by a margin of four points.
Brazil soared ahead to a four-point margin 16-12. They stretched the score to 19-14 before wrapping up the vital third and went on to wrap up the match in the fourth set. Andre Nascimento put away 19 points for Brazil to be the top scorer of the match. 
But in the opening match here in Belo Horizonte, France met titleholders Italy in what the local media are describing as the "Pool of Death". Yugoslavia and Poland are the other teams in the group. The Italians, using talent like Alessandro Fei and Valerio Vermiglio to perfection had a nine point lead in just 12 minutes. Some desperate renaissance shots by the French were insufficient to stop the Squadra Azzurri, who shut them out 25-14 in just 15 minutes.
France was powerless to stop the charge and failed to break through the Italian defense with Gravina and Zlatanov impenetrable on the net. A fine block by Kiefer, followed by a timely ace let the French level at 11-11 and captain Dominique Daquin came on, allowing the French a small lead. The two sides traded points to 19-19, but Italy edged ahead and Daquin served into the net to give the Italians set point in the second. Two points later Fea smashed a shot out of reach and Italy was 2-0. 
Efforts by Daquin and Capet were not enough to save the French and Italy wrapped up the final set 25-21.
In other action in Recife, Russia was unshakable against Netherlands with a straight sets 3-0 victory that confirmed that Brazil and Russia are the absolute favorites to advance to the semifinals in the group playing in Recife.
In the final match of the day, Olympic gold medallists met upstart Poland. Zoran Gajic had his heavyweights out in the opening phase with Nikola and Vladimir Grbic and the lofty 206cm Ivan Miljkovic, the tallest in the side, to take a four point lead in the first five minutes.
Nikola Grbic and Andrija Geric were fearless on the net and helped expand the Yugoslav lead to 16-7. In just 15 minutes the Yugoslav blues were 10 points up and three from taking the first set. Poland rallied with five points with Murek making a large contribution, before libero Rafal Musielak failed to pick up the winning Yugoslav point, giving them a 25-20 head start.
Poland, the only undefeated team at home in the preliminary rounds, settled quickly into the second set and took the lead briefly at 10-9 and Marcin Novak's 215cm height at the net was difficult to get past. A deft overhead shot by Slobodan Boskan leveled the score at 15-15 and put Yugoslavia back in contention. A serve into the net by Robert Prygiel gave Yugoslav a 2-point lead to 20-18 and they went on to go 2-sets up.
The sting then went out of Poland's attack and they retreated, defeated in straight sets when Yugoslavia took the final with an impressive 25-13.

World's elite Volleyball teams gather for finals showdown
Belo Horizonte, Brazil, August 12 - The world's elite men's Volleyball teams gathered here Monday ahead of the finals of the FIVB $15 million World League 2002, some still weary from six weeks of Intercontinental Rounds and all with expectations of a tough showdown over the next days.
Netherlands, Russia, Spain and hosts Brazil in Pool E of the Final Round, while Olympic Champions Yugoslavia, France, Italy and Poland play off in Pool F here in Belo Horizonte.
Interest in the opening match is intense here, when hometown favorites Brazil meet Spain in their opening match in Recife. Spain, at No. 14, is the lowest ranked team according to the FIVB World Rankings as at July 15 2002 but Spanish coach Francisco Hervas said he is happy that his side had qualified for the finals for the first time, a sign he said that the team is improving. Raphael Pascual, the best Spanish player is not with the team. " He is a great player, but we need him in a good shape for the world championship," Rascual said.
Russia and Brazil start as favorites in their pool and Russia's assistant coach, Boris Kolcins is confident. " In the last two months, we practice every day, twice a day, so we don' t have any problems. We think we can play well and we are sure that we'll leave Brazil with a great result," he said.
The Netherlands, even with stars like Richard Schuil and Reinder Nummerdor, and Spain will be hard pressed to push past the two giants. " Our hopes are not very high for this tournament, but we are proud to be here, said Bert Goedkoop, coach of the Netherlands, who added he expected all their matches would be tough for the young team.
Brazilian color aside, it could be Pool F that is the real thriller with Italy going for their ninth League title. They face Pool winners France in their opening match but French middle blocker Dominique Daquin said he was quietly confident. "We have worked hard and we deserve to be here," he said. "I am confident we will advance."
The Poles, unbeaten in their six matches at home, come with few expectations. "Italy will be hard to beat with their great World League tradition, but for me the Yugoslavs are the favorites," said coach Waldemar Wspanialy.
Yugoslav coach Zoran Gajic is taking the opposite tack. "We are going through a tough situation. There has been a lot of traveling and a lot of the matches," he said.
The decision in this group could go down to the wire when Yugoslavia meets Italy on Thursday when their playmaker Valerio Vermiglio and Alessandro Fei face the powerful Yugoslavs like Ivan Miljkovic and teammates. Squadra Azzurri coach Andrea Anastasi, facing his personal fourth World League and with two titles to his credit, also claimed theirs was the toughest group.
What is guaranteed is action and atmosphere in this country where major tournaments have attracted as many as 26,000 spectators. The "Boys from Brazil" will find the stands packed and players like the much-adored "Giba" (Gilberto Godoy Fihlo), the 25-year-old wing spiker, will draw strength from their enthusiastic support. What remains to be seen is this it will be enough to give Brazil their third, and second consecutive World League title.
Coach Bernardo Rezende is aware that his team needs to be concentrated.
"It's good to play in our country, but it' s very dangerous. There is a lot of thing that can distract the players and I want them to think only about Volleyball," he said.

All tickets booked for Brazil 
 Japan pulled off its sole victory in the FIVB $15 Million World League Intercontinental round on Sunday to sever Greece's slim chance of taking the last ticket to the finals in Brazil of this, Volleyball's richest annual competition for men. Instead, Yugoslavia, now undisputed second in Pool D, even with one match to go against Pool D leader France on Sunday night, takes the final place, while Japan and Greece are out.
Hosts Brazil, Poland, Italy, Spain, Russia, Netherlands, France and Yugoslavia are the eight team to contest the final round in the Brazilian cities of Recife and Belo Horizonte (Aug 13-18). The two groupings for the two cities will be announced from FIVB headquarters on Monday. 
Teams went into the final round of this six-weekend competition with most of the decisions already made. Some teams also chose to rest up their key players ahead of the finals, knowing that the outcome of their final matches would not alter the results.
In Pool A, Brazil beat traditional South American rival Argentina 3-2 and 3-0 to consolidate their leadership, while Poland, the other qualifier scored two victories over Portugal to be the only team undefeated at home.
Italy, who has won eight of the 12 World League titles so far contested, won over Spain 3-1 in Pool B on Friday and their rematch on Sunday night has no effect on the outcome. China and luckless Venezuela, the only team not to win a match so far in the preliminaries meet on Sunday night in Venezuela, but then exit the competition. 
In Pool C Netherlands went to Russia without ace Richard Schuil and Guido Gortzen and setter Nico Freriks also rested. Instead young players Joppe Paulides, Robert Horstink and Joram Maan all delivered fine performances that drew praise from Russian coach Guennade Chipouline. Russia won both matches 3-0, but Chipouline graced the visitors with a compliment saying: "It was a match of equal rivals." In this group, Germany and Cuba also round up their World League appearances.

France beats Yugoslavia, who move closer to qualifying for last finals berth in $15 Million World League 

Yugoslavia pushed France to the limit in a challenging five-setter on Friday night that finally went the way of the visitors to Podgorica, Yugoslavia 3-2 (20-25, 25-23,25-21, 19-25, 15-11) in front of a packed sports hall throwing their weight behind the home team.
With Yugoslavia battling for a World League finals berth in Brazil, there was no ground given, despite temperatures in the hall of more than 30 degrees C and heavy humidity that often trapped the players in lapses of concentration.
France, as Pool D leaders had already advanced and this weekend decides the remaining berth - between Olympic Champions Yugoslavia and their classic Balkan rivals Greece, who have lifted their game immensely in the last rounds.
But even before the final match of the Intercontinental round on Sunday, Yugoslavia seems certain of taking the last place, even if Greece win their second match against Japan. The teams will then be level on 19 points and advancement will be on superior set average. 
In other pool action, Poland beat Portugal and Brazil beat Argentina in Pool A, but both winning teams are already through. In Pool B, Italy and Spain are already in the final rounds, with China and Venezuela out of the race. Likewise, from Pool C Russia and Netherlands are also contesting a dead rubber this weekend with both teams through, while German and Cuba are eliminated.

Face-off for last finals berth
in last Intercontinental Round

Lausanne, Switzerland, July 30, 2002 – The FIVB $15 Million World League goes down to the wire this weekend in the sixth and last Intercontinental Round with traditional Balkan rivals Yugoslavia and Greece facing a battle of attrition in Pool D for the final berth.

France tops the Pool with Yugoslavia second and Greece close behind and while France should finish Pool leader, Yugoslavia must be wary of Greece, which has been enjoying continually improving form as the tournament progresses. Greece goes to Japan, which like Venezuela, has failed to win any of their 10 matches so far, while Yugoslavia is home to France, who beat them 3-0, 3-1 in the first round.

Meanwhile Italy and Spain have already qualified at the top of Pool B, with China and Venezuela chanceless going into the last round.

Russia, with only one loss so far, hosts Netherlands and both are already through to the final. Some of the Dutch players have opted to miss the trip. The tournament’s top scorer Richard Schuil will stay home to recover from a small injury. Guido Gortzen, who has been facing a heavy club program for Italian champion Modena will rest up ahead of the finals and setter Nico Freriks is out with travel-related stomach problems. The three will be replaced by third setter Erik Siebers and attackers Dennis van der Veen and Wytze Kooistra will go instead to Russia. Germany and the young an inexperienced Cuban side have exited now the tournament.

The tournament, the richest for men’s Volleyball, pits 16 of the world’s top national teams against each other in the Intercontinental Rounds, with eight teams advancing to the finals, this year in Brazil, in the cities of Recife and Belo Horizonte. Brazil, as finals host, qualifies automatically, but still tops Pool A going into the last round. Poland, the other qualifier in the group, has a theoretical chance to top the table this weekend when they meet Portugal at home.

Brazil is also the defending titleholder, but Italy has won more titles than any other nation in the history of the competition. They have won eight from 12 World League titles since 1990.

Match Schedule

Friday, August 2
Russia vs. Netherlands (Pool C), Belgorod, GMT 1400, Local 1800
Poland vs. Portugal (Pool A), Worclaw, GMT 1700, Local 1900
Venezuela vs. China (Pool B), Barquisimeto, GMT 2330, Local 1930
Yugoslavia vs. France (Pool D), Podgorica, GMT 1815, Local 2015
Italy vs. Spain (Pool B), Catania, GMT 1830, Local 2030
Argentina vs. Brazil (Pool A), Rosario, GMT 0000, Local 2100

Saturday, August 3
Germany vs. Cuba (Pool C), Leipzig, GMT 1300, Local 1500
Japan vs. Greece (Pool D), Toyama, GMT 0600, Local 1500
Poland vs. Portugal (Pool A), Worclaw, GMT 1300, Local 1500
Argentina vs. Brazil, Rosario (Pool A), GMT 2100, Local 1800
Russia vs. Netherlands (Pool C), Belgorod, GMT 1400, Local 1800

Sunday, August 4
Germany vs. Cuba (Pool C), Leipzig, GMT 0900, Local 1100
Japan vs. Greece (Pool D), Toyama, GMT 0500, Local 1400
Venezuela vs. China (Pool B), Cabimas, GMT 2330, Local 1930
Yugoslavia vs. France (Pool D), Novi Sad, GMT 1815, Local 2015
Italy vs. Spain (Pool B), Caserta, GMT 1830, Local 2030


Key matches
• Friday: Yugoslavia vs. France (Pool D), Podgorica, GMT 1815, Local 2015
• Saturday: Japan vs. Greece (Pool D), Toyama, GMT 0600, Local 1500
• Sunday: Japan vs. Greece (Pool D), Toyama, GMT 0500, Local 1400
• Sunday: Yugoslavia vs. France (Pool D), Novi Sad, GMT 1815, Local 2015
 

FIVB $15 Million World League 2002: Italy, Russia, Spain and France ahead on points after Round 5
Europe's elite men's Volleyball teams - Italy, Russia, Spain and France - have all surfaced to mount a challenge to FIVB World League titleholders Brazil as Intercontinental Round Five draws to a close this weekend. Italy and Russia lead their pools with 19 points, France and Spain have 18 and Brazil, Pool A leader, has 17 points from seven matches, they exhibited their vulnerability with weekend when they were twice thrashed this weekend by upstart Poland in front of more than 11,000 euphoric fans in Katowice. "We did not make any camouflage here in Katowice, at the moment this is the best we can play, but I still hope we will improve to reach our top disposition for the World League Finals and World Championships," Brazil's head coach Bernardo Rezende reflected. But it is in the other pools that action is fast and furious. Pool B is a battle of attrition between Italy, who has claimed the title more than any other nation in the League's 13-year history, and Spain. The Italians crushed Spain 3-0 on Friday for their second only defeat in the series, but had to struggle for their 3-1 return match on Saturday. Next weekend the Spaniards must travel to Italy to face the giant again in their away tie, knowing they are separated by just one point. Russia twice beat Germany this weekend to continue to lead Pool C while Netherlands delivered 3-1 and 3-2 messages to the youthful Cuban side, giving ace Dutch player Richard Schuil the chance to surge ahead on the Best Scorer's table, which he now leads with 197 from Cuban star Tomàs Aldazabal, who has 179 for second place. Aldazabal was rested for part of the match in the Cuban capital. The Dutch team meets Russia at home next weekend, but do so confident of their ticket to the finals in Brazil the following week.