VNL 2021: All results of June 10

On the opening match of today 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League game day, Serbia put an end to Iran’s five-match winning streak with a 3-2 victory (21:25, 25:15, 26:28, 25:22, 15:8) that advanced them to 6-2 at the competition.

Amirhossein Esfandiar (Iran): “I think we had our chances, but we didn’t use them. We could have won the fourth set, but we committed too many mistakes after the 20th point. If not for those mistakes, we would probably have won. In the tie-break Serbia ran away with the score and it was really hard to get back in the game, because they had a solid advantage. Now the game is over, we have to rest and focus on tomorrow’s match against Germany to be ready.”

Marko Podrascanin (Serbia): “I’m really happy, because this wasn’t our best game at this tournament. We were down 2-1 against one great team – the team that came to this match with five victories in a row. I’m very happy, because with this victory we are on the way to the Final Four. We played with almost all top teams, only Russia remains and tomorrow we will play with USA in another important match. Today is my 300th match in the national team, so I’m really proud.”

Russia rebounded from the last evening’s defeat vs. France with a 3-1 win over Canada, which brings the defending champions with a 5-3 score in the competition.

Arthur Szwarc (Canada): “A lot of thoughts after this game. We learnt a lot from them, because when you play against Russia you have to go out aggressively and if you don’t compete at their level, they will kick you out. We have a good mentality right now. We are understanding what we are doing wrong and we understand what we have to do to fix it, every game we were close behind, but we are not just there yet. These are little pieces we have to fix, the little adjustments to make here and there, but we are on the right track.”

Igor Kobzar (Russia): “Yesterday’s loss to France didn’t give us positive emotions or confidence, so today we tried to regain our confidence and improve our game and communication. I’m very glad that we managed to win this game. Against us every team gives their best, showing their best volleyball, because they have nothing to lose and we play with a bit of pressure for the result. We performed very well today in block and serve. We all played at a higher level than yesterday.”

Slovenia staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down to turn the tables on France and knock them off the top of the 2021 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League charts. 2-3 is the final result and partially it was 25:17, 25:19, 23:25, 19:25 and 9:15.

Thibault Rossard (France): “We started the match very well with good service, but then in the third set we lost a bit of focus and we lost some easy points letting them return to the game and they used this chance. They played very well after that until the end of the fifth set. The result of the fifth set was a combination of mentality and physical issues, we were missing energy after leading 2-0 – it was tough for us to see that Slovenia came back and level the set score to 2-2 and in the tie-break they put big pressure on us. They played really good, we had our chance in the third set to finish the set, but we didn’t use it and they found their rhythm and won this game.”

Alen Pajenk (Slovenia): “Winning the game after being 0-2 down feels amazing, especially that we played against each other in Germany [at European Olympic qualifiers], so it was a kind of revenge for us. I’m happy that we did. We started very badly on serve, so it was very hard to play, especially in the first two sets. But then Rok Mozic came in and he gave us some freshness. We started to score more points and to serve better. We had much more energy in the last three sets. We know that the match against Russia will be very hard. Tomorrow is a new day, a new challenge – big Russia, they also won today, so it’s going to be a really hard match, but we will go motivated to this game like against everybody else and we will try to win.”

Argentina recorded their third win at the competition overwhelming Australia in under an hour and a half, leaving the losing side winless.

James Weir (Australia): “I’m disappointed, it’s frustrating to lose. We are still finding ourselves as a team every day, improving, but it’s difficult to adjust to the other teams. It took a long time to make adjustments today. We let them play too freely, without service pressure they could do whatever they wanted.”

Augustin Loser (Argentina): “I’m very happy for the team and for me. We had a very bad start at the VNL, so I think every victory is very important for us. We played the first ball for the sideout very well, and it was very important because after that we could serve stronger. I think that sideout was key to this victory. We want to win every match, we have to fight in every match.”

USA bounced back after their previous day’s defeat vs. Iran, by beating Germany in straight sets.

Florian Krage (Germany): “It’s hard to accept that we only started to play our level only in the third set. We know that we could have done it, we showed it in the third set, but it really hurts seeing what we were doing in the first two sets and that it took us so long to start playing. Just a really hard match today. I guess that in the first two sets we were a little bit tired, but all teams are, so it cannot be an excuse. We have to start every match with fire and in a way we want to play as it’s great to play here. We just have to find another way to start the match better.”

Kawika Shoji (USA): “It’s a big result for us. Honestly, we were up and down during this tournament. We have a lot of different players playing, not a lot of our main players, so it’s been difficult times. But just really proud of our team to be able to come out with a lot of focus and a lot of good energy. We were just focused from the start, we played very patient volleyball, we didn’t make a lot of mistakes and we were still aggressive as well, so big shout out to the rest of my team.”

Brazil remain at the top of the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League standings after sweeping Bulgaria and advancing to 7-1.

Denis Karyagin (Bulgaria): “Brazil are a world-class team. We played hard against them, but we are a young team and this is a valuable experience for us.”

Alan Souza (Brazil): “Our team was very focused on the match. At the beginning we started a little bit slowly, especially in service, but then we improved our game to gain this victory. It was a great match.”

Japan once again proved to be among contenders for the Final Four of the competition.
Even though it is the impression that Italy did not exploit all its opportunities, Japan’s victory on Day 8 is highly deserved: 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 22:25, 25,15, 15:9).
Two players pulled the winners ahead tonight and had a joint match-high 19 points: Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi. Haku Ri made 83.3% attack (10/12).

Mattia Bottolo (Italy): “I think we played a great match – unfortunately we were not able to extend our winning streak and gain the third victory, but we have another match tomorrow. Japan are a strong team. We played two great sets against them. I think that we surprised them in defence and that should be a key for our next matches.”

Haku Ri (Japan): “During our meeting we talked that we have to win these three games against Australia, Italy and Argentina. Therefore, I am very satisfied that we managed to win yesterday and today. Even if we were behind, we managed to close this game in our favour. We managed to do it, because we focus on one game at the time, thus everyone sets their mind to win the game and this is the reason why we were successful.”

Poland’s win over The Netherlands 3-0 (25:14, 25:17, 25:16) closed the Day.

Stijn van Tilburg (The Netherlands): “Poland are one of the best teams in the world. Actually, we played back-to-back Brazil and Poland – two the best teams in the world. Playing against them all you can do is try your best. I think we had some really nice, long rallies, but in the end they are a really good team, it’s hard to play against them.”

Pawel Zatorski (Poland): “It was another match for us which we had to win. Before the game we knew that in normal conditions we are way stronger than the Netherlands, so it was our goal today to win this game and to prepare as well as possible for the next difficult games. The match against Brazil will be the most difficult. We are prepared for a tough battle.”

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)
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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)

👉🏼 Standings: Poland 21, Brazil 21, France 18, Slovenia 17, Serbia 16, Iran 16, Russia 16, Japan 13, USA 12, Germany 11, Italy 8, Argentina 8, Canada 7, Bulgaria 5, The Netherlands 3, Australia 0,
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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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