Sofia, Bulgaria, July 5, 2012 – Poland booked themselves an FIVB World League 2012 semifinal spot along with Cuba after beating world champions Brazil 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 17-25, 15-10) on Thursday at the Arena Armeec.
Fantastic Poland were inspired by Bartosz Kurek and Zbigniew Bartman who top scored with 25 and 21 points respectively as they beat Brazil, who had lost to Cuba on the opening day on Wednesday, for the fourth time this year.
“We are happy with the result today,” Poland captain Marcin Mozdzodek said. “We won against one of the best teams in the world for the last decade and, what is more, it was for the fourth time this year. We did not start the match in a distracted way, but we managed to handle the situation and became more focused. We fought for every point and I think this made the difference.”
In the night match Germany beat the Olympic champions USA in another five set thriller 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 16-14) for only the sixth time in 15 encounters between the two countries.
The victory leaves first time World League Finalists Germany still in semifinal contention as they must now wait for Friday’s Pool E game between Bulgaria and USA to see who will advance. Friday’s play will also see the unbeaten Pool F teams in action with Poland playing Cuba followed by USA against Bulgaria.
Top Scoring Performances
33 – Gavin Schmitt of Canada v Brazil (May 19)
33 – Mikko Oivanen of Finland v Canada (June 3)
33 – Tsevetan Sokolov of Bulgaria v Germany (June 24)
Top Blocking Performances
7 – Georgi Bratoev of Bulgaria v Germany (July 4 - Finals)
7 – Lucas Saatkamp of Brazil v Poland (May 18)
7 – Russell Holmes of USA v Korea (May 19)
7 – José Trèfle of France v Korea (May 20)
7 - Rolando Cepeda of Cuba v Japan (June 15)
Top Blocking Performances by team
21 – France against Korea (May 20)
19 – Russia against Serbia (June 30)
19 – USA against France (June 30)
18 – Russia against Japan (May 19)
18 – USA against Italy (July 1)
17 – Germany against Bulgaria, Bulgaria against Germany (July 4 – Finals) and USA against Germany (July 5 – Finals)
Top Serving Performances
7 – Wilfredo Leon of Cuba v Russia (June 17)
5 – Olli-Pekka Ojansivu of Finland v Poland (May 19)
5 – Aleksandar Atanasijevic of Serbia v Japan (May 20)
5 – Wilfredo Leon of Cuba v Brazil (July 4 - Finals)
Top Serving Performances by team
11 – Brazil v Finland (May 20)
11 – Portugal v Argentina (June 17)
8 – Cuba v Brazil (July 4 – Finals)
Highest scorer by week
Round 1: Gavin Schmitt, 33 (Canada v Brazil)
Round 2: Mikko Oivanen, 33 (Finland v Canada)
Round 3: Tsevetan Sokolov, 33 (Bulgaria v Germany)
Round 4: Tsevetan Sokolov, 29 (Bulgaria v Germany)
Finals: Bartosz Kurek, 25 (Poland v Brazil)
Highest set score
Round 1: Canada v Finland, 33-31
Round 2: Poland v Canada, Canada v Finland, Germany v Bulgaria 28-26
Round 3: Italy v USA, 27-29
Round 4: USA v Korea, 32-30
Finals: Bulgaria v Germany, 29-27
Highest Scoring matches
Round 1: Italy v Korea, 3-2 (24-26, 27-25, 21-25, 29-27, 18-16) – 238 points
Round 2: Poland v Brazil, 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-10) – 219 points
Round 3: Serbia v Japan, 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10) – 205 points
Round 4: France v Italy, 3-2 (29-31, 25-23, 25-18, 21-25, 15-12) – 224 points
Finals: USA v Germany, 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 16-14) – 212 points
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Fantastic Poland were inspired by Bartosz Kurek and Zbigniew Bartman who top scored with 25 and 21 points respectively as they beat Brazil, who had lost to Cuba on the opening day on Wednesday, for the fourth time this year.
“We are happy with the result today,” Poland captain Marcin Mozdzodek said. “We won against one of the best teams in the world for the last decade and, what is more, it was for the fourth time this year. We did not start the match in a distracted way, but we managed to handle the situation and became more focused. We fought for every point and I think this made the difference.”
In the night match Germany beat the Olympic champions USA in another five set thriller 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 16-14) for only the sixth time in 15 encounters between the two countries.
The victory leaves first time World League Finalists Germany still in semifinal contention as they must now wait for Friday’s Pool E game between Bulgaria and USA to see who will advance. Friday’s play will also see the unbeaten Pool F teams in action with Poland playing Cuba followed by USA against Bulgaria.
For full match reports, press conference quotes, statistics and photos visit:
http://www.fivb.o...e/2012/LiveScore.asp
Top Scoring Performances
33 – Gavin Schmitt of Canada v Brazil (May 19)
33 – Mikko Oivanen of Finland v Canada (June 3)
33 – Tsevetan Sokolov of Bulgaria v Germany (June 24)
Top Blocking Performances
7 – Georgi Bratoev of Bulgaria v Germany (July 4 - Finals)
7 – Lucas Saatkamp of Brazil v Poland (May 18)
7 – Russell Holmes of USA v Korea (May 19)
7 – José Trèfle of France v Korea (May 20)
7 - Rolando Cepeda of Cuba v Japan (June 15)
Top Blocking Performances by team
21 – France against Korea (May 20)
19 – Russia against Serbia (June 30)
19 – USA against France (June 30)
18 – Russia against Japan (May 19)
18 – USA against Italy (July 1)
17 – Germany against Bulgaria, Bulgaria against Germany (July 4 – Finals) and USA against Germany (July 5 – Finals)
Top Serving Performances
7 – Wilfredo Leon of Cuba v Russia (June 17)
5 – Olli-Pekka Ojansivu of Finland v Poland (May 19)
5 – Aleksandar Atanasijevic of Serbia v Japan (May 20)
5 – Wilfredo Leon of Cuba v Brazil (July 4 - Finals)
Top Serving Performances by team
11 – Brazil v Finland (May 20)
11 – Portugal v Argentina (June 17)
8 – Cuba v Brazil (July 4 – Finals)
Highest scorer by week
Round 1: Gavin Schmitt, 33 (Canada v Brazil)
Round 2: Mikko Oivanen, 33 (Finland v Canada)
Round 3: Tsevetan Sokolov, 33 (Bulgaria v Germany)
Round 4: Tsevetan Sokolov, 29 (Bulgaria v Germany)
Finals: Bartosz Kurek, 25 (Poland v Brazil)
Highest set score
Round 1: Canada v Finland, 33-31
Round 2: Poland v Canada, Canada v Finland, Germany v Bulgaria 28-26
Round 3: Italy v USA, 27-29
Round 4: USA v Korea, 32-30
Finals: Bulgaria v Germany, 29-27
Highest Scoring matches
Round 1: Italy v Korea, 3-2 (24-26, 27-25, 21-25, 29-27, 18-16) – 238 points
Round 2: Poland v Brazil, 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-10) – 219 points
Round 3: Serbia v Japan, 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10) – 205 points
Round 4: France v Italy, 3-2 (29-31, 25-23, 25-18, 21-25, 15-12) – 224 points
Finals: USA v Germany, 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 16-14) – 212 points
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