Olympic Men's Volleyball Draw

[doctordubya]

Pool A

Tunisia
Argentina
Serbia & Montenegro
Poland
France
Greece

Pool B

Brazil
Italy
Russia
Netherlands
USA
Australia


Whooboy. As in 2000, USA has the toughest pool by a long way. In Pool A they would be confident of beating Tunisa, Argentina, Greece and Poland, maybe even France, and therefore looking at 1st or 2nd as very realistic.

As it is... on form and world ranking they would be expected to lose to Brazil, Italy and Russia. Netherlands will be a close match and Australia will be no pushover.

At a bare minimum, USA will probably need to beat Netherlands and Australia, and thus get out of the pool in 4th. Unfortunately, that will most likely pit them against Serbia & Montenegro in the quarter-final...

Bottom line: if Doug Beal's team are going to progress in Athens, they will need to play their best volleyball right from the first match (Italy).

[jbspaw]

What are our records against
Russia
Brazil
Italy

This year?

[doctordubya]

USA Men haven't played any of these teams this year, as far as I know. Last year they played Italy and Brazil in the World Cup - IIRC they lost both matches 3-0.

[BigTenVball]

But, look at it this way. Beat Netherlands and Australia, like you SHOULD, and steal one from either Russia, Italy, or Brazil, and you take 3rd in pool. In the crossover, you are looking at either Poland, Argentia, or France to get to the semis. All 3 are very beatable!
Either way you look at it, you have to beat SOMEONE good to get to the semis. Now, you have 3 shots to get an upset in POOL play to get a good route to the semis.

[mrvolleyball]

For what it's worth, the US men were the only team to beat Brazil when that country won the '02 World Championships.

Both sides have improved since then, with Brazil the clear world number one.

[kirkles]

is this match going to be televised here in the US?

IF so, how does one view the broadcast?

[planetasia01]

2000 Olympics at Sydney, i think most, if not all, of the men's and womens volleyball matches we're aired late at nite (one match i remember being aired around 1 am)

[mrvolleyball]

Since there are a number of NBC channels....MSNBC, CNBC, etc. that are airing Olympic coverage, maybe it will end up on one of those.

In Sydney, I don't think NBC aired the US men at all in prime time, when they went 0-5 in pool play.

The women, who surprised lots of people in 2000, did get some NBC prime time coverage. Not sure when, but it might have been in the quarterfinals.

Usually when NBC has aired late night Olympic coverage, it's just highlights, in between rowing and
synchronized dart throwing. ;D