Tokyo 2020: What a stunner! Argentina eliminates Italy and flies to semifinals

Argentina flies into the battles for medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men’s volleyball tournament after making something unbelievable in the quarterfinals: eliminating Italy.
After 21 years (Sydney 2000), Argentina advanced into the Olympic men’s volleyball semifinal as it beat the rivals at tie break, partially 21:25, 25:23, 25:22, 14:25, 15:12.

The team commanded by Marcelo Méndez will have two games ahead of it to earn a medal.
As for Italy, the last time they were stopped in the quarterfinals was 29 years ago, at Barcelona 1992. Moreover, Italy failed to qualify for the Olympic semifinals after six consecutive appearances there, losing to Argentina, who definitely surprised many by such a result.

The only downside for the winners is Ezequiel Palacios, who had to leave the court at the end of the fourth set due to problems with his ankle, which might pose a concern for the South American side ahead of the semis in which it will face the winner between Poland and France.
On the other side of the net, bad day also Italy’s star Ivan Zaytsev, so the head coach Gianlorenzo Blengini had to pull him out of the court in the middle of the third set and put Luca Vettori in.
Facundo Conte was the top scorer for Argentina with 19 points, while Osmany Juantorena, who officially said good bye to italian national team, tallied 22 on the losing side.

| 2020 Tokyo Olympics men’s volleyball tournament – 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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| All results of 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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