VNL 2021: all results of June 5

Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-0 (25:19, 25:20, 25:23) in the first match of Day of 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League on Saturday.

Federico Pereyra (ARG): “We had a good game and we played as a team. In difficult moments we stayed together and that’s the most important, because we all supported each other. This was a key to victory. We were in good shape today and showed good volleyball. Our goal is to be better day by day. Now we have three days of rest and it’s important for us, because this tournament is long and it’s hard to play three days in a row high-level games.”

Maikel van Zeist (NED): “When you play three games in a row it has to impact you physically. I think yesterday the energy level was a bit higher, but still we had a lot of changes today, we just didn’t use that. What was missing? Just a little edge on the final actions. I can speak for myself, there were some moments when I could score. Maybe sometimes a bit of cooperation between players. It is what it is at this moment, but those balls should be finished. I’m always eager, so I get back to the hotel and I will think about the match, what went well and what went wrong. We will see how the schedule for these three days will look, but in my opinion we will take a little bit of rest to clear our minds and we will go back to training to work ahead of the next games.”

Germany put a stop to Slovenia’s run at the competition, coming back from a set down to finish the match in four.

Saso Stalekar (Slovenia): “I think that a big problem was with our physical condition. We were playing mostly with our ‘first’ team, so it was tough. We also didn’t serve well and they had good passing and we also didn’t use the first ball in the sideout, so these were our main problems. In the second set, especially in the middle of this part, we lost our concentration – we didn’t score some critical points and then our minds shut out and it all became more difficult. They were receiving well and playing defence well, in addition they picked up some balls from our side.”

Christian Fromm (Germany): “It was pretty awesome. I’m very glad for this victory, because in the last match we had a chance and we didn’t win and now we took the opportunity. It was not easy, because at the beginning of the match we didn’t manage to use the chances they gave us. Later, we fought more and took the opportunities. We spiked better – it was key to our victory. We used our strength and broke them with block-defence and performing counterattacks.”

The France National Team ended the second week of the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League in a victorious way.
Defeating Japan after a huge battle in which they trailed twice in sets, France finished the second week of the competition in Rimini (Italy) with a 5-1 record: 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 24:26, 25:21, 15:11). Jean Patry led the winners with 19 points, while Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa tallied match-high 25 points.

Taishi Onodera (Japan): “France served very well and it made a difference. We should have been more aggressive in serving, too. They had good serving and good passing skills, so we tried to catch up with them. It didn’t work today, but maybe next time.”

Antoine Brizard (France): “It was a tough battle – it’s always tough to play against the teams that receive so well like Japan do. We knew that they would defend a lot, and they did it – as always. We also defended a lot also, so it was interesting. In the tie-break we started well and then they came back, but it felt good to take the lead again winning three or four points. We managed to do it well.”

Brazil convincingly rallied from a set behind to bring Serbia crashing down and create a brand new situation in the standings of the competition.
Douglas Correira De Souza was the top scorer with 22 points, while Alan Souza added 19 and Ricardo Lucarelli 18.

Petar Krsmanovic (Serbia): “I think that in the second set we didn’t manage to win the balls which we should have finished, we lost a chance to lead 2-0. It’s hard to play against the Olympic champions, they were better today, especially in the third set. It wasn’t our day today, so we have to focus on the next matches. We made too many errors today – in attack, service. We have to be better in all skills. We have to be focused and I hope we will improve in the next week.”

Ricardo Lucarelli (Brazil): “It’s always tough to play against Serbia. They have an amazing team. In the first set we had an opportunity to close the set, but we made some mistakes in important moments. Thus far, we played six games and we won five, so it’s amazing. We lost to France, but they played great, however we know that we can still improve.”

Reigning world champions Poland stunned defending VNL champions Russia in four sets to take the lead in the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League standings at the end of Week 2. Wilfredo Leon was the best scorer with 25 points including 7 aces, while Maxim Mikhailov had 18 on the other side.

Igor Kobzar (Russia): “We played quite well in the first set and then Poland started to serve very difficult serves that made a difference in this game. We couldn’t find an answer or way to serve the same way. There was no turning point, I would say there was only this one element – service that was crucial for the result of this match.”

Wilfredo Leon (Poland): “I think that our team is growing day by day. We are doing a really hard job during training and also at the power gym. We have 18 players and everyone is ready to play, so I’m really happy with that. Today the game started not so well, but we found our way to win and we did it. It was the most important today. I can still grow, as we could see today I served 7 aces – I want to do better. When I say I want to do better, it’s not about increasing the number of aces or speed, but about making fewer mistakes. I will try to do better in the next game. I’m working hard to improve the reception, defence and block to be an even better player.”

USA take the third win in six matches by beating Australia who remain the only winless team at the competition at the end of Week 2.

Trent O’Dea (Australia): “USA are a very tough, routined and experienced team and we are quite a new team and that’s very challenging for us. But it’s good, because we are improving with every game and we are getting closer and closer. I think we had a rough start, but we didn’t get as much preparation ahead of the VNL as we would have liked, but we have worked as much as we can and I think that each game has been improvement on the last, so keeping it right I’m sure we will be challenging the teams in the next round.”

Kyle Ensing (USA): “It was a good game, good match-up. I think we had turnaround from the last two matches and we really came together as a team and I think we did it well. We brought back fun to the sport and really looked at each other as a team. Playing these top teams is a very challenging thing to deal with. I think we are not where we want to be yet. We will definitely practice more and we will get better and then we will do the best we can.”

Iran shot up to four wins after six games at the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League with a straight sets win over Bulgaria in their last match of Week 3.

Nikolay Kolev (Bulgaria): “I’m very happy that I got an opportunity to play the full match here, because it’s my first full match – previously I entered the court only as a substitute. So I really enjoyed this chance, although the opponent was very difficult. Marouf is a legend, he entered the court in the second set in a critical moment and he changed the game and they won.”

Amirhossein Esfandiar (Iran): “We are very happy about this victory. This game was really important for our team as we wanted to close this round with a win. Everybody knows that Marouf is a big player and great captain, so he is super important for our team. I think he made a difference in the second set. Now we have time to recover and get ready for next week.”

Second win in VNL for Italy, who defeated Canada by 2-3 (19:25, 21:25, 25:21, 28:26, 11:15) in last match of second week.

FIVB VNL 2021 – Results & Program

May 28, 2021 –
France – Bulgaria 3-0 (27:25, 25:21, 25:23)
Germany – Australia 3-0 (25:19, 25:18, 25:16)
Japan – Iran 3-0 (25:19, 25:22, 26:24)
Serbia – Slovenia 3-1 (22:25, 25:18, 36:34, 25:18)
The Netherlands – Russia 1-3 (19:25, 22:25, 25:18, 20:25)
USA – Canada 3-0 (25:17, 26:24, 25:20)
Poland – Italy 3-0 (25:19, 25:20, 25:18)
Brazil – Argentina 3-0 (31:29, 26:24, 25:16)
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May 29, 2021 –
Germany – France 2-3 (25:22, 22:25, 25:22, 16:25, 15:17)
Iran – Russia 1-3 (17:25, 25:20, 20:25, 17:25)
The Netherlands – Japan 2-3 (25:22, 25:23, 22:25, 17:25, 8:15)
Australia – Bulgaria 0:3 (21:25, 20:25, 20:25)
Poland – Serbia 3-1 (26:24, 25:19, 21:25, 25:15)
Italy – Slovenia 0-3 (23:25, 19:25, 15:25)
Argentina – Canada 0-3 (17:25, 21:25, 17:25)
USA – Brazil 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 19:25)
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May 30, 2021 –
Australia – France 1-3 (26:28, 25:20, 14:25, 23:25)
The Netherlands – Iran 0-3 (18:25 23:25, 28:30)
Germany – Bulgaria 3-2 (19:25, 25:21, 22:25, 30:28, 15:11)
Russia – Japan 2-3 (26:28, 28:26, 25:20, 21:25, 14:16)
USA – Argentina 3-1 (23:25, 25:21, 25:15, 25:19)
Canada – Brazil 1-3 (17:25, 20:25, 25:22, 25:27)
Poland – Slovenia 1-3 (22:25, 25:23, 19:25, 23:25)
Serbia – Italy 3-1 (25:23, 22:25, 25:22, 25:18)
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June 3, 2021 –
Germany – Argentina 2-3 (19:25, 25:23, 25:17, 23:25, 13:15)
Iran – Canada 3-1 (22:25, 25:22, 25:22, 25:22)
Japan – Serbia 1-3 (25:18, 23:25, 22:25, 13:25)
Brazil – France 0-3 (37:39, 18:25, 28:30)
The Netherlands – Slovenia 0-3 (18:25, 15:25, 18:25)
Australia – Poland 0-3 (16:25, 10:25, 12:25)
Italy – Bulgaria 3-2 (25:19, 20:25, 25:13, 23:25, 15:12)
Russia – USA 3-1 (25:22, 25:19, 17:25, 25:19)
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June 4, 2021 –
Argentina – Slovenia 0-3 (19:25, 22:25, 18:25)
The Netherlands – Germany 3-2 (25:18, 23:25, 25:20, 23:25, 15:13)
Brazil – Japan 3-0 (25:20, 25:16, 25:20)
Serbia – France 3-2 (22:25, 24:26, 25:22, 25:23, 15:9)
Iran – Italy 3-1 (26:24, 29:27, 21:25, 25:22)
Poland – USA 3-0 (25:17, 28:26, 25:17)
Russia – Australia 3-0 (25:19, 26:24, 25:21)
Canada – Bulgaria 3-0 (28:26, 25:23, 25:16)
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👉🏼 June 5, 2021 –
The Netherlands – Argentina 0-3 (19:25, 20:25, 23:25)
Slovenia – Germany 1-3 (25:19, 20:25, 21:25, 20:25)
France – Japan 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 24:26, 25:21, 15:11)
Brazil – Serbia 3-1 (23:25, 25:23, 25:15, 25:22)
Russia – Poland 1-3 (25:21, 19:25, 19:25, 14:25)
USA – Australia 3-0 (25:23, 25:20, 25:17)
Bulgaria – Iran 0-3 (20:25, 31:33, 22:25)
Canada – Italy 2-3 (19:25, 21:25, 25:21, 28:26, 11:15)

👉🏼 STANDINGS: Poland 15, Brazil 15, France 14, Russia 13, Slovenia 12, Iran 12, Serbia 11, Germany 11, USA 9, Japan 8, Canada 7, Argentina 5, Italy 5, Bulgaria 5, The Netherlands 3, Australia 0.
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June 9, 2021 –
Serbia – Germany 3-1 (19:25, 25:22, 25:18, 25:15)
Japan – Australia 3-1 (25:18, 21:25, 28:26, 26:24)
France – Russia 3-1 (22:25, 25:18, 30:28, 25:19)
Slovenia – Canada 3-0 (25:22, 25:19, 25:22)
Argentina – Italy 0-3 (28:30, 21:25, 20:25)
Iran – USA 3-0 (25:19, 25-23, 25:23)
Poland – Bulgaria 3-0 (25:19, 25:15, 25:12)
The Netherlands – Brazil 0-3 (19:25, 22:25, 25:27)
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June 10, 2021 –
Serbia – Iran 3-2 (21:25, 25:15, 26:28, 25:22, 15:8)
Russia – Canada 3-1 (25:18, 25:18, 23:25, 25:23)
France – Slovenia 2-3 (25:17, 25:19, 23:25, 19:25, 9:15)
Argentina – Australia 3-0 (25:18, 25:19, 25:20)
Germany – USA 0-3 (12:25, 18:25, 27:29)
Bulgaria – Brazil 0-3 (16:25, 22:25, 12:25)
Japan – Italy 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 22:25, 25:19, 15:9)
Poland – The Netherlands 3-0 (25:14, 25:17, 25:16)
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June 11, 2021 –
Iran – Germany 2-3 (25:23, 20:25, 19:25, 25:19, 13:15)
Slovenia – Russia 3-2 (19:25, 25:23, 22:25, 25:20, 15:8)
Japan – Argentina 1-3 (32:30, 16:25, 18:25, 21:25)
The Netherlands – Bulgaria 2-3 (18:25, 25:18, 25:17, 22:25, 13:15)
Australia – Italy 0-3 (20:25, 22:25, 14:25)
USA – Serbia 1-3 (23:25, 17:25, 25:19, 25:27)
Canada – France 1-3 (25:20, 21:25, 22:25, 17:25)
Poland – Brazil 0-3 (17:25, 26:28, 19:25)
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June 15, 2021 –
Russia – Serbia 3-1 (25:23, 25:22, 22:25, 25:21)
Iran – Australia 2-3 (23,25, 22:25, 25:23, 25:18, 12:15)
Argentina – Bulgaria 3-1 (25:20, 16:25, 25:18, 25:18)
Japan – Germany 3-0 (25:18, 25:22, 25:20)
Italy – USA 0-3 (15:25, 18:25, 21:25)
Canada – Poland 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 19:25)
Brazil – Slovenia 3-2 (15:25, 25:22, 19:25, 25:13, 15:12)
The Netherlands – France 3-2 (15:25, 22:25, 28:26, 25:23, 19:17)
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June 16, 2021 –
Argentina – Russia 1-3 (19:25, 23:25, 25:21, 19:25)
Serbia – Bulgaria 3-0 (25:20, 25:17, 25:17)
Slovenia – Australia 3-1 (18:25, 25:18, 25:18, 25:17)
Japan – Poland 0-3 (14:25, 18:25, 19:25)
The Netherlands – Italy 1-3 (19:25, 23:25, 25:23, 21:25)
Canada – Germany 3-0 (25:17, 26:24, 25:21)
USA – France 1-3 (23:25, 25:22, 29:31, 22:25)
Iran – Brazil 1-3 (19:25, 25:23, 19:25, 21:25)
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June 17, 2021 –
Argentina – Serbia 3-0 (27:25, 25:20, 26:24)
Bulgaria – Russia 0-3 (17:25, 22:25, 17:25)
Japan – Canada 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 18:25)
Australia – Brazil 0-3 (17:25, 22:25, 12:25)
Iran – Slovenia 1-3 (25:14, 20:25, 19:25, 30:32)
The Netherlands – USA 2-3 (25:21, 17:25, 25:23, 15:25, 13:15)
France – Italy 2-3 (19:25, 25:22, 20:25, 25:21, 12:15)
Germany – Poland 0-3 (22:25, 19:25, 20:25)
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June 21, 2021 –
Australia – Serbia 1-3 (16:25, 13:25, 25:19, 15:25)
Japan – Bulgaria 3-0 (25:23, 25:18, 25:14)
France – Iran 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:19)
Canada – The Netherlands 3-0 (25:16, 25:16, 25:19)
Brazil – Italy 3-1 (25:19, 32:30, 22:25, 25:20)
Slovenia – USA 3-2 (28:30, 25:19, 21:25, 28:26, 15:13)
Poland – Argentina 3-0 (25:21, 25:22, 25:18)
Germany – Russia 1-3 (18:25, 18:25, 25:23, 15:25)
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June 22, 2021 –
Canada – Australia 3-0 (25:17, 25:8, 25:20)
Serbia – The Netherlands 3-2 (25:21, 21:25, 25:18, 21:25, 17:15)
Bulgaria – USA 0-3 (19:25, 24:26, 9:25)
Iran – Poland 0-3 (20:25, 20:25, 16:25)
Japan – Slovenia 0-3 (16:25, 16:25, 26:28)
France – Argentina 3-0 (26:24, 25:21, 25:22)
Brazil – Germany 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:23)
Russia – Italy 3-2 (25:21, 16:25, 25:17, 19:25, 15:12)
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June 23, 2021 –
Australia – The Netherlands 0-3 (23:25, 19:25, 19:25)
Canada – Serbia 3-2 (17:25, 21:25, 25:17, 25:20, 17:15)
USA – Japan 3-0 (25:21, 25:23, 25:20)
France – Poland 3-2 (25:22, 21:25, 22:25, 25:20, 15:11)
Iran – Argentina 1-3 (31:33, 23:25, 32:30, 18:25)
Slovenia – Bulgaria 3-0 (25:23, 25:16, 25:18)
Italy – Germany 3-2 (25:12, 24:26, 25:22, 21:25, 15:13)
Brazil – Russia 0-3 (21:25, 26:28, 20:25)
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June 26, 2021 –
Semifinal 1: Brazil – France 3-0 (25:20, 25:18, 25:19)
Semifinal 2: Poland – Slovenia 3-0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:23)
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June 27, 2021 –
Final 3/4: France – Slovenia 3-0 (25:20, 25:18, 25:19)
Final 1/2: Brazil – Poland 3-1 (22:25, 25:23, 25:16, 25:14)
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