With Sunday’s match being the final matchday of the Preliminary Round, there is one spot in the Final 6 and also positioning is still to play for. The teams that finish in 1st, 2nd and 5th place (excluding the host of the Finals, France) will be placed into Pool B. While the 3rd and 4th place finishers will be placed in Pool A with the Finals host, France. Additionally the teams outside of the Final 6 do receive points in the FIVB Rankings based on their finish.
With that said, we will look at all of the teams and where they can finish based on their matches on Sunday.
1st Place Russia (11-3, 34 points), Clinched Final 6 Berth
Russia with their win over the USA on Saturday have clinched the best record (excluding France) and will be placed in Pool B in the Finals.
2nd Place France (11-3, 32 points), Clinched Final 6 Berth as Hosts
3rd Place Brazil (10-4, 30 points), Clinched Final 6 Berth
Brazil jumped over the USA on Sunday due to a better sets ratio (USA -1 sets lost). Brazil will finish 2nd (excluding France) and be placed in Pool B in the Finals with the following:
- Brazil WIN vs. Argentina in 3 SETS
- OR Brazil WIN IN 4 SETS AND USA MUST WIN IN 4 SETS OR MORE
- OR Brazil WIN IN 5 SETS, USA MUST ALSO GO 5 SETS to clinch
- OR Brazil LOSSES IN 5 SETS AND USA LOSE
Brazil cannot finish worse than 3rd place (excluding France).
4th Place USA (10-4, 30 points), Clinched Final 6 Berth
USA can finish 2nd (excluding France) and be placed in Pool B in the Finals with the following.
- USA WIN AND Brazil LOSS
- OR USA WIN IN 3 AND Brazil WIN IN 4 SETS
- USA and Brazil would be tied on wins, points, sets ratio and go to points ratio tiebreaker
- USA is ahead of Brazil by 23 points as of Saturday’s results
- OR USA WIN IN 3 OR 4 SETS AND Brazil WINS IN 5 SETS
- OR USA GO 5 SETS AND Brazil LOSES IN 3 or 4 SETS
USA cannot finish worse than 4th place (excluding France).
5th Place Serbia (10-4, 26 points), Clinched Final 6 Berth
Serbia could finish 2nd (excluding France) and be placed in Pool B in the Finals with the following.
- Serbia WIN AND Brazil LOSE AND USA LOSE
Serbia could finish 3rd (excluding France) and be placed in Pool A in the Finals with the following.
- Serbia WIN AND Brazil LOSE
- OR Serbia WIN AND USA LOSE
To stay in 4th (excluding France) Serbia must WIN vs. China. If Serbia LOSE AND Poland WIN, Serbia will be in 5th Place (excluding France).
6th Place Poland (9-5, 26 points)
To clinch a berth in the Final 6 Poland needs:
- WIN 2 SETS
- Would give the sets ratio tiebreaker to Poland (1.409 to 1.320) over Italy, if tied on wins at 9 and points at 27.
- OR Italy LOSS
To Finish 4th (excluding France) Poland needs to WIN AND Serbia LOSE. Otherwise they are 5th (excluding France) and will be placed in Pool B. If Italy overtakes them, Poland are 7th.
7th Place Italy (8-6, 24 points)
To clinch a berth in the Final 6 Italy needs:
- Poland LOSE IN <5 SETS AND Italy WIN IN <5 SETS
- Poland locked in at 9 wins and 26 points. Italy gets to 9 wins, but 27 points.
- OR Poland LOSE IN 3 SETS AND Italy WIN IN 5 SETS
- Both teams tied on wins at 9 and points at 26. Italy takes sets ratio tiebreaker (1.320 to 1.318)
If Italy loses, it can finish 8th or 9th with wins by Canada and/or Germany.
8th Place Canada (7-7, 22 points)
Could overtake Italy if Italy LOSE IN <5 SETS AND Canada WIN IN <5 SETS. Could finish 10th with Iran WIN IN <5 SETS and Canada LOSE IN <5 SETS
9th Place Germany (7-7, 22 points)
Could overtake Italy and Canada if Italy AND Canada LOSE IN <5 SETS AND Germany WIN IN <5 SETS. Could finish 10th with Iran WIN IN <5 SETS and Germany LOSE IN <5 SETS
10th Place Iran (6-8, 19 points)
Could overtake Germany and Canada if Germany AND Canada LOSE IN <5 SETS AND Iran WIN IN <5 SETS. Could finish 11th with Japan WIN IN <5 SETS and Iran LOSE. Cannot finish lower than 11th.
11th Place Japan (6-8, 15 points)
A Japan WIN will put them in 10th if Iran LOSE. If Japan LOSE AND Bulgaria OR Australia WIN, they will be in 13th. If Japan LOSE AND BOTH Bulgaria AND Australia WIN, Japan will be 14th.
12th Place Bulgaria (5-9, 15 points)
A Bulgaria WIN AND Japan LOSS will put Bulgaria in 11th. A Bulgaria LOSS IN <5 SETS AND Australia WIN OR Australia WIN 2 SETS will put Bulgaria in 13th. Otherwise Bulgaria will be 12th.
13th Place Australia (5-9, 15 points)
A Australia WIN AND Japan LOSS will put Australia in 12th. IF Bulgaria ALSO LOSES, Australia is 11th. A Bulgaria LOSS IN <5 SETS AND Australia WIN OR Australia WIN 2 SETS will put Australia in 12th. Otherwise Australia will be 13th.
14th Place Argentina (3-11, 12 points)
A win will guarantee 14th place. An Argentine LOSS means that China could overtake Argentina with a WIN.
15th Place China (3-11, 9 points)
Need Argentina to LOSE AND China WIN to move into 14th place, otherwise 15th.
16th Place South Korea (1-13, 5 points)
South Korea cannot improve their position and will be not in the 2019 Men’s Volleyball Nations League
Leave a Reply