2017 FIVB WORLD LEAGUE – POOL E1
- June 9th-11th, 2017
- Palace of Culture and Sports, Varna, Bulgaria
- Schedule/Results
Poland and Brazil both come into this match currently in position to make the Final Six. Beyond that, this matchup represents two defending champions in a couple differing, yet high-level events. Brazil won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics while Poland won the last World Championships back in 2014. On top of all the hype, this is a rematch of a five-set match that kicked these teams off in World League.
The Polish side currently sits in fifth overall in the standings with two wins and two losses for a total of six points. Their World League slate started with a five set victory over Brazil – the lone blemish on the Brazilian’s resume. They followed it up with a four-set win over Italy but recently have dropped two straight. They fell in four sets to Iran and were on the wrong side of a five-set match with Bulgaria yesterday. That five-set loss gave them one point, as they sit third in Pool E1.
Brazil ranks second in the standings, only trailing unbeaten France. At 3-1, Brazil has 10 points so far in World League and have victories in their last three matches after falling in the opener to Poland. All three of those wins coming against Iran, Italy and Canada (in succession) lasted four sets. With Bulgaria recording two points in Pool E1, Brazil’s three gives them the pool edge for first.
The first meeting looked good for Brazil early leading two sets to one behind Evandro M. Guerra’s 22 points. Led by Dawid Konarski and his 20 points, Poland won a tight fourth 25-22 before rolling through the fifth 15-8. Beyond all of the recent history of championships for these sides, this is a rematch among two teams with strong implications for the Final Six.
Poland vs. Brazil starts at 9:40 Eastern Time in the U.S., and can be watched, for free, in its entirety below:
Leave a Reply