 |
|
|
|
|
-
-
- Weekly Previews & Reviews:
- -
-
-
-
- |
|
-
Schedule:
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Press info
-
- -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
- -
-
- -
|
|
|
Facts & Figures
|
|
- - - Previous years:
- - -
|
|
|
|
|
|
| World League 2002 - Previews
& Reviews
|
|
| WRAP
UP |
|
| PREVIEW |
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
|
|
