24nd August 2008
Beijing (CHN)


A few days ago Doug Beal, US Volleyball Association CEO, said: “It's hard to believe”. It happened just after the US Volleyball Women's victory against Cuba in the semi-final.
Today he wasn’t able to describe his emotions after the gold medal won by the men’s team.


U.S.A. – Brazil 3-1
(20/25) (25/22) (25/21) (25/23)

Hugh McCutcheon’s team lost the first set but it was clear that they wouldn’t give up.
The second set started with five points in a row for Clayton Stanley, who was playing poorly in the first frame. Powerful serves and back row spikes made the US diagonal spiker more confident. The entire team got better, finding again its best rhythm.
Lloy Ball, the setter, smartly distributed alternating quick attacks in the middle of the net and outside sets. The young David Lee dominated in blocking, getting in the way of plenty of balls and spiking effectively. Riley Salmon fought as usual, improving his level of attacking.

But the secret of this team isn’t the individual performances but the team spirit.

The same team spirit which was the Brazilian winning characteristic up to now. Giba and his team-mates have been tightly bound together and succeeded in gaining many victories because of their friendship and team spirit.

After six years, they found an opponent that succeeded in doing this better. The current Brazil team suffers from some technical  insecurities and moreover they had to use Dante (usually an outside spiker) as opposite during the last set.

Bernardo Rezende ("Bernardinho") for many years tried to line up the same players but today he used all the "available" athletes but Anderson, who was injured and Rodrigao, who was still recovering a knee problem.

As I have written during the World League finals, Brazilians behaved well in Rio de Janeiro in defeat. A few week later in Beijing they continued with their sportsmanship, fighting till the last ball and kissing their medals, although silver, during the awarding ceremony.

I believe that the wonderful Brazilian team, which has dominated the Volleyball world since 2002, deserves the most sincere congratulations for their performances and for their extraordinary conduct, while the US team also deserves the plaudits after again winning the gold Olympic medal for the first time in 20 years.


Russia – Italy 3-0
(25/22) (25/19) (25/23)


The Russians played a great tournament improving many of their weakest points: they fought each point with the right emotional approach, they were focused on digging, they organized a modern blocking system and were more stable than ever.

Two days ago, the Russians lost 3-2 in the semi-final against USA in the most exciting Volleyball match of the Olympic Games. They were two sets behind but playing with unusual patience and concentration as they stretched the match to five sets.

Today in the bronze-medal final, they kept playing with steadiness despite their many young players, such as  Volkov, Mikhaylov, Grankin. If Russia succeed in stabilizing their improvements, they definitely will be one of the favorite teams for the 2010 World Championship and 2012 London Olympic Games.


The Italians, in winning their quarter-final against Poland, achieved their main aim. After that match, the Italian players seemed less resolute and strong minded. They kept on playing at their best but without that deep motivation necessary to win in a tough competition like the Olympic Games.

Moreover, the Italians were aimless in the humble fundamentals (usually digs and cover are considered humble) and no one team can hope to win playing in that way.

In 2010, Italy will host the World Championship and this team will mature. Andrea Anastasi, the Italian coach, can place his trust in some of these athletes, but to compete with the world’s top teams an attitude “revolution” will be necessary.  

Bye bye andrea zorzi