Nagoya (Japan)

Brazil Serbia 3-0


Brazil made a long step closer to Beijing winning the match with Serbia.

The two teams came from an opposite performance. Only a few hours before Serbia had played wonderfully against USA and Brazil had been overwhelmed by Italy. But something happened during the night because the team mood completely switched.

Since the 2007 World Cup beginning, the Terzic’s team (Serbia) distinguished for an unrelenting will to do their best never giving up. This morning, for the very first time, I saw the Serbian players tired and worn out. They played almost the whole tournement using the same line up, and ten games in thirteen days is a very demanding commitment. Therefore, Terzic tried to take advantage of each lasting energy avoiding emotional challenge to the players (in any case it would have been useless).
He focused mostly on the simple technical suggests, hoping that it would be the best way to exploit the few energy left.

On the other side of the net the impassive and imperturbable Brazilian players seen yesterday, turned into enthusiastic and wholehearted players.
Their match was faultless, characterized by wonderful digging, precise serving and quick attacking.

However, it was amazing to observe the friendly feeling among the players and their coach, Ze Roberto. I would have expected to see a slight resentment against the coach after the punishment of yesterday (all the players had to attend at press conference). Otherwise the atmosphere was very smooth and friendly.

I’m not surprised about the good reaction in the game because this is the usual effect when the players’ pride is challenged. But, if I were in that conditions (and I have been many times) I would have never celebrated each points with my coach!

I would have admitted that his strategy worked out, but the coach should have paid a price: the players hostility for the whole match.

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Italy Cuba 3-0


Today’s match was very important for two reasons: Italy had the opportunity to qualify for Beijing Olympic Games and Taimaris Aguero played for the first time against her old team-mates.

The first question ended quickly because Italian team nowadays is playing a wonderful Volleyball. They keep improving day by day and no one team can compete at the same level. Barbolini’s squad reaches the twentieth victory in a row, fifteen of which were 3-0.
Tomorrow Italy will play to win the World Cup and to lengthen the record.


The second question is much more complex: in 2001, Aguero left Cuba and went to live in Perugia (Italy). After six years, she had the opportunity to play with the Italian national team as soon as she received the Italian citizenship.
A few minutes before the match I heard these words: “The Cubans don’t forgive. We can understand but we never forgive”.
These harsh and tough words hurt also me, but were helpful to better comprehend the tense atmosphere.

Anyway she decided to play this match (against Cuba) only after a long and tormented afterthought.

Aguero’s next goal is the 2008 Olympic Games and she didn’t want risk to play against Cuba for the first time during that tournament.
At the beginning of the game I was able to recognize clearly the big pressure that all the players felt. Aguero for herself, the Italian players to support her and also the Cuban.

The twisted emotional knot lasted only one set (won by Italy 27-25), than loosed and the match became again a regular enjoyable sport challenge between two Volleyball teams.

Bye bye andrea