Tokyo 2020: Day 2 of Pool Stage. What happened?

In first matches of Day 2 of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men’s volleyball tournament, Russia (officially the Russian Olympic Committee – ROC) silences USA’s euphoria, while Iran surpasses Venezuela without problem, both claimed the second victory in as many games.

The ROC placed another victory in Pool B, this time the much more important one both in terms of the game and of the qualification for the quarterfinals.
Tuomas Sammelvuo’s side destroyed the United States, who appeared full of confidence after sweeping France on Day 1. ROC won with a clear superiority in the attack by the North Americans, who have often been in the lead, even by a few points: 3-1 (25:23, 27:25, 21:25, 25:23). Dmitriy Volkov top-scored the winners with 16 points, while Taylor Sander tallied 17 for the USA and Erik Shoji made 81.5% reception (22/27).

In POOL A, Iran defeated Venezuela in straight sets. Thus, the team coached by Vladimir Alekno, who had started the Olympic campaign with an amazing 3-2 win over Poland, are at 2-0. Iran’s Amir Ghafour was the top scorer of the match with 16 points, while Meisam Salehi made 70.6% attack (12/17), and Milad Ebadipour had 86.7% reception (26/30). Willner Rivas scored 15 points for Venezuela, adding 75% reception (18/24) to his good performance.

After the setback with Iran, Poland presented itself much better against Italy and won Pool A’s second encounter of today.
The unsuccessful start of the Olympic volleyball tournament meant that Vital Heynen’s team had to play a high-stakes match today.
It was not yet a do-or-die match for Poland, but it was an important one for regaining self-confidence of the world championzzzand its mission was accomplished, 3-0 vs Italy, partially 25:20, 26:24, 25:20. Italy, on the other hand, showed that a hard fight against Canada on Day 1 was not a coincidence, as the level of its play is not satisfactory.
Michał Kubiak was missing once again in the line-up of Poland.
The captain is struggling with an injury that neither the player himself nor anyone in the national team wants to talk about (apparently, he has back problems).
Italy was weakened, too, as its starting setter Simone Giannelli was sidelined for a muscle strain in his right quadriceps.
Wilfredo León led the Polish offense with 18 points, while Paweł Zatorski made 82.3% reception (14/17).
There were no double-digit players in Italy, and Ivan Zaytsev made only 18.7% efficiency (7/16; 4 errors).

Two days after its failed start to the Olympic Games against the United States, France managed to redeem with a clear victory against Tunisia in Pool B: 3-0 (25:21, 25:11, 25:21). Jean Patry and Trévor Clévenot were the top scorers of the match 12 points apiece, while Barthélémy Chinenyeze set up 4 blocks.

In South American classic Argentina loses to Brazil despite having 2-0
Not even 2-0 in sets was enough for Argentina to down the titleholder in Pool B. The team commanded by Marcelo Méndez was close to delivering the second biggest surprise since the start of the Olympic Games (the first one was the win of Iran over Poland), as they had 2-0 in sets and 17:11 in the fourth set.
However, Brazil made a 9-1 run in those moments and turned the course of the set and match into its favor. Given the composition of the pool, this defeat might cost Argentina a spot in the quarterfinals.
Yoandy Leal was at the top of the quartet of Brazilian players in double digits, putting down 18 points, while Thales Hoss made 70% reception (15/20; 1 error).
Bruno Lima highlighted Argentina (and the match) with 26 points, while Agustín Loser set up 4 blocks.

Back to Pool A, Canada managed to win only the first set against Japan, and then succumbed to the attacking power of the duo Yuji Nishida and Yuki Ishikawa who tallied 23 and 22 points, respectively. Tomohiro Yamamoto was amazing in defense for the winning side, making 77.8% reception (14/18).
Thus, the host shares a 2-0 record with Iran in Pool A.

| Complete Schedule for men’s volleyball tournament:

Pool A: Japan, Poland, Italy, Canada, Iran, and Venezuela.
Pool B: Brazil, USA, Russia, Argentina, France, and Tunisia.

| July 25 – Day 1
Italy – Canada 3-2 (26:28, 18:25, 25:21, 25:18, 15:11)
Brazil – Tunisia 3-0 (25:22 25:20 25:15)
Russia – Argentina 3-1 (21:25 25:23 25:17 25:21)
Japan – Venezuela 3-0 (25:21 25:20 25:15)
Poland – Iran 2-3 (25:18, 22:25, 22:25, 25:22, 21:23)
USA – France 3-0 (25:18, 25:18, 25:22)

👉🏼 July 27 – Day 2
Iran – Venezuela 3-0 (25:17, 25:20, 25:18)
USA – ROC 1-3 (23:25, 25:27, 25:21, 23:25)
Poland – Italy 3-0 (25:20, 26:24, 25:20)
France – Tunisia 3-0 (25:21, 25:11, 25:21)
Japan – Canada 3-1 (23:25, 25:23, 25:23, 25:20)
Brazil – Argentina 3-2 (19:25, 21:25, 25:16, 25:21, 16:14)

| July 29 – Day 3
Canada – Iran 3-0 (25:16, 25:20, 25:22)
USA – Tunisia 3-1 (25:14 23:25 26:14 25:23)
Argentina – France 3-2 (23:25, 25:17, 25:20, 15:25, 15:13)
Poland – Venezuela 3-1 (25:16, 25:13, 18:25, 25:15)
Japan – Italy 1-3 (20:25, 17:25, 25:23, 21:25)
Brazil – ROC 0-3 (22:25, 20:25, 20:25)

| July 31 – Day 4
Canada – Venezuela 3-0 (25:13, 25:22, 25:12)
Brazil – USA 3-1 (30:32, 25:23, 25:21, 25:20)
Japan – Poland 0-3 (22:25, 21:25, 24:26)
Argentina – Tunisia 3-2 (23:25, 23:25, 25:19, 25:18, 15:8)
Italy – Iran 3-1 (30:28, 25:22, 21:25, 25:21)
ROC – France 1-3 (21:25, 25:20, 17:25, 20:25)

| August 2 – Day 5
Poland – Canada 3-0 (25:15, 25:21, 25:16)
Brazil – France 3-2 (25:22, 37:39, 25:17, 21:25, 20:18)
ROC – Tunisia 3-0 (25:20, 25:22, 25:16)
Italy – Venezuela 3-0 (25:22, 25:15, 25:17)
Japan – Iran 3-2 (25:21, 20:25, 29:31, 25:22, 15:13)
USA – Argentina 0-3 (21:25, 23:25, 23:25)

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| QUARTERFINALS – August 3:
• Canada (4a) – ROC (1b) 0-3 (21:25, 28:30, 22:25)
• Japan (3a) – Brazil (2b) 0-3 (20:25, 22:25, 20:25)
• Italy (2a) – Argentina (3b) 2-3 (25:21, 23:25, 22:25, 25:14, 12:15)
• Poland (1a) – France (4b) 2-3 (25:21, 22:25, 25:21, 21:25, 9:15)

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| SEMIFINALS – August 5, 2021:

• Brazil – ROC 1-3 (25:18, 21:25, 24:26, 23:25)
• France – Argentina 3-0 (25:22, 25:19, 25:22)

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August 7: FINALS
• Bronze Medal Match: Argentina – Brazil 3-2 (25:23, 20:25, 20:25, 25:17 15:13)
• Gold Medal Match: France – Russian Olympic Committee 3-2 (25:23, 25:17, 21:25, 21:25, 15:12)

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