Led by Jean Patry with 17 points and Kevin Tillie who also contributed with 16, France claimed their third victory in as many games against Australia 3-1 (28:26, 20:25, 25:14, 25:23).
Graham Beau (AUS): βIt was a very fierce one. I think we did a really good job fighting against France. We have many young guys in the team and I think itβs a really great experience to play against good teams like France, but we had a good fight. We are going step by step, we are improving game by game, we are getting there. Now we have lost three games in a row, but for us I am really proud. We have to keep working on our service pressure, but our block system is getting better and better.β
Jean Patry (FRA): βIt was a difficult match, but we knew that today we were playing early at 10, so it wouldnβt be easy for us. But Iβm happy because I think we played well and we started the tournament with three victories. I tried to work well with the setter to find our rhythm. Itβs only the second week since we started to train together again, so Iβm happy that it has worked so well so far and that I scored many points.β
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In their third game of the VNL, Iran achieved first victory in the competition. They defeated the Netherlands by 3-0 (25:18, 25:23, 30:28). Amir Hossein Esfandiar was Iran top scorer with 14 points, Meisam Salehi added 12 and Seyed Mousavi 11 points. Nimir Abdel-Aziz was the top scorer for the Netherlands with 11 points.
Nimir Abdel-Aziz (The Netherlands): βItβs normal that we have changed a little bit our starting six, because itβs a very long tournament where we have to play 15 games, so itβs impossible to always play with the same players. We are here to learn, so we have to give a chance to every player to play and to improve and to see how it is to compete at this level, so itβs why we started with a different line-up today. We had a chance to win the third set, but we didnβt use it. But it was another learning day. Iβm happy that after yesterdayβs game when we started good and at the end we didnβt play good as a team, today we didnβt give up even for a moment. Itβs a shame that we didnβt take the third set.β
Seyed Mousavi (Iran): βWe knew that the Netherlands are a good team and at the VNL there are no weaker opponents. We have to give our maximum and push to gain victory. We fought until the end for our country. With our National Team we always want to win big matches and fight hard for every point, like in this match. Iβm happy about this victory. Our fighting spirit was a key to success. We struggled in reception and also in attack. In the first two sets we served very well and we managed to put the ball far from our opponentβs setter and we played fast, but in the last set we stopped serving and it was a problem.β
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Germany defeats Bulgaria in a five-set battle for their second victory in the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, leaving the rivals with a 1-2 record after the first week of play.
Tsvetan Sokolov (Bulgaria): βWe had our chances, but we didnβt use them all. I think we had many opportunities, but we were not making the right decisions in attack and in other elements. In important moments we made mistakes which you cannot do playing against teams like Germany. We need to recover and practice to prepare ourselves for next matches in Week 2.β
Tobias Krick (Germany): βIt was a close game. Bulgaria played really well, but we never gave up. They saved two match points, but we kept pushing and pushing on them, then we made some good defence and blocks to eventually win the game. We sometimes missing experience to make the final points. We have a great team, many young guys β mostly 22-23 years old β and we try our best, because we are underdogs in almost every game. We have a good team spirit and today we showed some good volleyball.β
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Japan caused an amazing sensation at the competition with a spectacular 3-2 win over defending champions Russia.
Tuomas Sammelvuo (Russia head coach): βWe had to close this game. We were leading and controlling the game, thatβs simple, but we didnβt use our opportunities. Japan defend a lot of balls, the ball doesnβt hit the floor easily and they have good reception. So if you lose the patience and you get nervous even for two minutes, it ends like this. Also in our attack we had one-by-one situations and even without blocks, but the ball didnβt touch the court. Itβs a game of moments. Two or three minutes and the result might be different, but itβs a good lesson.β
Philippe Blain (Japan coach): βIβm proud of our players, because we came here to gain experience. We came here to fight for every point and not only look at the result β just try to increase our level of our standing and they did perfectly β especially defence, coverage. They are shorter than the Russians. Playing against great teams like here let us gain important experience, especially ahead of the Olympic Games. We didnβt come here with a specific goal to win. We want to take the maximum experience and win the maximum number of matches and enjoy volleyball, because enjoying volleyball is also important, and that we did tonight.β
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USA survived a first-set and came back to defeat Argentina in four, redeeming after the previous nightβs defeat to Brazil.
Martin Ramos (Argentina): βI think we started to feel tired, because we came here only with nine players. Itβs not an excuse, but itβs reality. We lost today, but we have to grow. This week six additional players arrive in Rimini, so I think we will get better in the next games.β
Torey Defalco (USA): βI think we battled well. Argentina are a very good team. They pass really well, they play good defence and have a very good fast offence. As soon as we got service pressure and block-defence working it turned out better for us. I think we had a good start at the VNL. First start after a year and half, so Iβm really happy with our first three games, of course there are some things we can work on and we will improve it.β
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Brazil retained their undefeated status and remain on full points, despite they dropped their first set of the competition to Canada and then struggled to avoid a tie-break.
Nicholas Hoag (Canada): βIn the first two sets we couldnβt pick up our game. It was very difficult, because Brazil were serving very well and they are a team that doesnβt make many mistakes, so itβs really hard to play against them. If you make mistakes you are going to lose. After the second set we really played well. In the end small details made the difference.β
Douglas Souza (Brazil): βIt was great to see the strength of the group. Playing matches like this one is important as it helps to increase the game. Itβs important to start the VNL with three victories and now we have to improve ahead of the next games. We have three days to rest now and to work on all our systems.β
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Slovenia stuned reigning world champions Poland in a four sets win that brings the rookies up amongst the top teams of the competition on a 2-1 record.
Aleksander Sliwka (Poland): βIt was a tough match for us. They were pushing on serve and I think that made a difference tonight, because we were suffering in reception. We were close in the fourth set, it was a tough ending of the set, but maybe we lacked a little bit of luck, maybe one ball could turn it around. In three days we play another game, so we have to work hard and prove that we are strong.β
Jan Kozamernik (Slovenia): βItβs amazing, I really enjoyed this match. It was tough. We expected that they would fight until the end, but we kept pushing and in the end we managed to win, so Iβm really happy and proud of the guys, because we managed to pull this through and that we withstood the pressure. I think we showed character tonight and this is important in the VNL, so I hope we will keep it for next matches.β
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In the last match of the day (and of the first weekend of play), Serbia back to the victory, following their defeat a night previously to Poland, with a victory over hosts Italy, still winless.
Giulio Pinali (Italy): βWe played a really good match. We stayed close, even if it was difficult. We played as much as we could. We are happy that we managed to win a set, but we still need to improve ahead of the next games. We are a young team, now we have three days without matches and we will try to work on our game.β
Nikola Jovovic (Serbia): βI have to congratulate the team of Italy, because they played a good game, they are a tough team and they play better and better. They were changing players so it was difficult to play against them especially in the first set. We were also modifying our squad. Our main scorer and attacker got injured, so itβs a difficult situation for us. We are trying to substitute them and yesterday it was not enough, but today we won.β
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FIVB VNL 2021 β Results & Program
May 28, 2021 β
France β Bulgaria 3-0 (27:25, 25:21, 25:23)
Germany β Australia 3-0 (25:19, 25:18, 25:16)
Japan β Iran 3-0 (25:19, 25:22, 26:24)
Serbia β Slovenia 3-1 (22:25, 25:18, 36:34, 25:18)
The Netherlands β Russia 1-3 (19:25, 22:25, 25:18, 20:25)
USA β Canada 3-0 (25:17, 26:24, 25:20)
Poland β Italy 3-0 (25:19, 25:20, 25:18)
Brazil β Argentina 3-0 (31:29, 26:24, 25:16)
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May 29, 2021 β
Germany β France 2-3 (25:22, 22:25, 25:22, 16:25, 15:17)
Iran β Russia 1-3 (17:25, 25:20, 20:25, 17:25)
The Netherlands β Japan 2-3 (25:22, 25:23, 22:25, 17:25, 8:15)
Australia β Bulgaria 0:3 (21:25, 20:25, 20:25)
Poland β Serbia 3-1 (26:24, 25:19, 21:25, 25:15)
Italy β Slovenia 0-3 (23:25, 19:25, 15:25)
Argentina β Canada 0-3 (17:25, 21:25, 17:25)
USA β Brazil 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 19:25)
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ππΌ May 30, 2021 β
Australia β France 1-3 (26:28, 25:20, 14:25, 23:25)
The Netherlands β Iran 0-3 (18:25 23:25, 28:30)
Germany β Bulgaria 3-2 (19:25, 25:21, 22:25, 30:28, 15:11)
Russia β Japan 2-3 (26:28, 28:26, 25:20, 21:25, 14:16)
USA β Argentina 3-1 (23:25, 25:21, 25:15, 25:19)
Canada β Brazil 1-3 (17:25, 20:25, 25:22, 25:27)
Poland β Slovenia 1-3 (22:25, 25:23, 19:25, 23:25)
Serbia β Italy 3-1 (25:23, 22:25, 25:22, 25:18)
ππΌ Standings: Brazil 9, France 8, Japan 7, Russia 7, Poland 6, Slovenia 6, Germany 6, USA 6, Serbia 6, Bulgaria 4, Iran 3, Canada 3, The Netherlands 1, Italy 0, Argentina 0, Australia 0.
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June 3, 2021 β
Germany β Argentina 2-3 (19:25, 25:23, 25:17, 23:25, 13:15)
Iran β Canada 3-1 (22:25, 25:22, 25:22, 25:22)
Japan β Serbia 1-3 (25:18, 23:25, 22:25, 13:25)
Brazil β France 0-3 (37:39, 18:25, 28:30)
The Netherlands β Slovenia 0-3 (18:25, 15:25, 18:25)
Australia β Poland 0-3 (16:25, 10:25, 12:25)
Italy β Bulgaria 3-2 (25:19, 20:25, 25:13, 23:25, 15:12)
Russia β USA 3-1 (25:22, 25:19, 17:25, 25:19)
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June 4, 2021 β
Argentina β Slovenia 0-3 (19:25, 22:25, 18:25)
The Netherlands β Germany 3-2 (25:18, 23:25, 25:20, 23:25, 15:13)
Brazil β Japan 3-0 (25:20, 25:16, 25:20)
Serbia β France 3-2 (22:25, 24:26, 25:22, 25:23, 15:9)
Iran β Italy 3-1 (26:24, 29:27, 21:25, 25:22)
Poland β USA 3-0 (25:17, 28:26, 25:17)
Russia β Australia 3-0 (25:19, 26:24, 25:21)
Canada β Bulgaria 3-0 (28:26, 25:23, 25:16)
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June 5, 2021 β
The Netherlands β Argentina 0-3 (19:25, 20:25, 23:25)
Slovenia β Germany 1-3 (25:19, 20:25, 21:25, 20:25)
France β Japan 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 24:26, 25:21, 15:11)
Brazil β Serbia 3-1 (23:25, 25:23, 25:15, 25:22)
Russia β Poland 1-3 (25:21, 19:25, 19:25, 14:25)
USA β Australia 3-0 (25:23, 25:20, 25:17)
Bulgaria β Iran 0-3 (20:25, 31:33, 22:25)
Canada β Italy 2-3 (19:25, 21:25, 25:21, 28:26, 11:15)
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June 9, 2021 β
Serbia β Germany 3-1 (19:25, 25:22, 25:18, 25:15)
Japan β Australia 3-1 (25:18, 21:25, 28:26, 26:24)
France β Russia 3-1 (22:25, 25:18, 30:28, 25:19)
Slovenia β Canada 3-0 (25:22, 25:19, 25:22)
Argentina β Italy 0-3 (28:30, 21:25, 20:25)
Iran β USA 3-0 (25:19, 25-23, 25:23)
Poland β Bulgaria 3-0 (25:19, 25:15, 25:12)
The Netherlands β Brazil 0-3 (19:25, 22:25, 25:27)
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June 10, 2021 β
Serbia β Iran 3-2 (21:25, 25:15, 26:28, 25:22, 15:8)
Russia β Canada 3-1 (25:18, 25:18, 23:25, 25:23)
France β Slovenia 2-3 (25:17, 25:19, 23:25, 19:25, 9:15)
Argentina β Australia 3-0 (25:18, 25:19, 25:20)
Germany β USA 0-3 (12:25, 18:25, 27:29)
Bulgaria β Brazil 0-3 (16:25, 22:25, 12:25)
Japan β Italy 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 22:25, 25:19, 15:9)
Poland β The Netherlands 3-0 (25:14, 25:17, 25:16)
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June 11, 2021 β
Iran β Germany 2-3 (25:23, 20:25, 19:25, 25:19, 13:15)
Slovenia β Russia 3-2 (19:25, 25:23, 22:25, 25:20, 15:8)
Japan β Argentina 1-3 (32:30, 16:25, 18:25, 21:25)
The Netherlands β Bulgaria 2-3 (18:25, 25:18, 25:17, 22:25, 13:15)
Australia β Italy 0-3 (20:25, 22:25, 14:25)
USA β Serbia 1-3 (23:25, 17:25, 25:19, 25:27)
Canada β France 1-3 (25:20, 21:25, 22:25, 17:25)
Poland β Brazil 0-3 (17:25, 26:28, 19:25)
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June 15, 2021 β
Russia β Serbia 3-1 (25:23, 25:22, 22:25, 25:21)
Iran β Australia 2-3 (23,25, 22:25, 25:23, 25:18, 12:15)
Argentina β Bulgaria 3-1 (25:20, 16:25, 25:18, 25:18)
Japan β Germany 3-0 (25:18, 25:22, 25:20)
Italy β USA 0-3 (15:25, 18:25, 21:25)
Canada β Poland 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 19:25)
Brazil β Slovenia 3-2 (15:25, 25:22, 19:25, 25:13, 15:12)
The Netherlands β France 3-2 (15:25, 22:25, 28:26, 25:23, 19:17)
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June 16, 2021 β
Argentina β Russia 1-3 (19:25, 23:25, 25:21, 19:25)
Serbia β Bulgaria 3-0 (25:20, 25:17, 25:17)
Slovenia β Australia 3-1 (18:25, 25:18, 25:18, 25:17)
Japan β Poland 0-3 (14:25, 18:25, 19:25)
The Netherlands β Italy 1-3 (19:25, 23:25, 25:23, 21:25)
Canada β Germany 3-0 (25:17, 26:24, 25:21)
USA β France 1-3 (23:25, 25:22, 29:31, 22:25)
Iran β Brazil 1-3 (19:25, 25:23, 19:25, 21:25)
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June 17, 2021 β
Argentina β Serbia 3-0 (27:25, 25:20, 26:24)
Bulgaria β Russia 0-3 (17:25, 22:25, 17:25)
Japan β Canada 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 18:25)
Australia β Brazil 0-3 (17:25, 22:25, 12:25)
Iran β Slovenia 1-3 (25:14, 20:25, 19:25, 30:32)
The Netherlands β USA 2-3 (25:21, 17:25, 25:23, 15:25, 13:15)
France β Italy 2-3 (19:25, 25:22, 20:25, 25:21, 12:15)
Germany β Poland 0-3 (22:25, 19:25, 20:25)
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June 21, 2021 β
Australia β Serbia 1-3 (16:25, 13:25, 25:19, 15:25)
Japan β Bulgaria 3-0 (25:23, 25:18, 25:14)
France β Iran 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:19)
Canada β The Netherlands 3-0 (25:16, 25:16, 25:19)
Brazil β Italy 3-1 (25:19, 32:30, 22:25, 25:20)
Slovenia β USA 3-2 (28:30, 25:19, 21:25, 28:26, 15:13)
Poland β Argentina 3-0 (25:21, 25:22, 25:18)
Germany β Russia 1-3 (18:25, 18:25, 25:23, 15:25)
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June 22, 2021 β
Canada β Australia 3-0 (25:17, 25:8, 25:20)
Serbia β The Netherlands 3-2 (25:21, 21:25, 25:18, 21:25, 17:15)
Bulgaria β USA 0-3 (19:25, 24:26, 9:25)
Iran β Poland 0-3 (20:25, 20:25, 16:25)
Japan β Slovenia 0-3 (16:25, 16:25, 26:28)
France β Argentina 3-0 (26:24, 25:21, 25:22)
Brazil β Germany 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:23)
Russia β Italy 3-2 (25:21, 16:25, 25:17, 19:25, 15:12)
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June 23, 2021 β
Australia β The Netherlands 0-3 (23:25, 19:25, 19:25)
Canada β Serbia 3-2 (17:25, 21:25, 25:17, 25:20, 17:15)
USA β Japan 3-0 (25:21, 25:23, 25:20)
France β Poland 3-2 (25:22, 21:25, 22:25, 25:20, 15:11)
Iran β Argentina 1-3 (31:33, 23:25, 32:30, 18:25)
Slovenia β Bulgaria 3-0 (25:23, 25:16, 25:18)
Italy β Germany 3-2 (25:12, 24:26, 25:22, 21:25, 15:13)
Brazil β Russia 0-3 (21:25, 26:28, 20:25)
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June 26, 2021 β
Semifinal 1: Brazil β France 3-0 (25:20, 25:18, 25:19)
Semifinal 2: Poland β Slovenia 3-0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:23)
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June 27, 2021 β
Final 3/4: France β Slovenia 3-0 (25:20, 25:18, 25:19)
Final 1/2: Brazil β Poland 3-1 (22:25, 25:23, 25:16, 25:14)
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Source and Photos: FIVB