FIVB U21 Championships
- June 23-July 2, 2017
- Brno, Czech Republic
- Schedule/Results
- Live Streaming
After two rounds of play, four teams have advanced to the semifinals of the FIVB U21 Men’s Championships. Russia, Cuba, Brazil and Poland will vie for the title Saturday and Sunday in the Czech Republic. Classification matches deciding fifth through 16th place also will be played over the weekend.
Three-time defending champions Russia went 6-0 on the tournament, sweeping Cuba, Turkey and the United States to take Pool B. The Russians then took down Argentina and Canada in four sets and topping Brazil in five to win Pool F. Russia has won the last three U21 titles, defeating Argentina in 2011 and 2015, and topping Brazil in 2013, and won 10 overall golds since the competition began in 1977.
Brazil is looking to improve on its four-place finish from 2015 and capture its fifth overall title and first since 2009. Thus far in the 2017, the Brazilians’ lone stumble came in a tight-five set match with Russia on Thursday. Prior to that, Brazil made quick work of its Pool D foes, sweeping Egypt, China and Japan. In Pool F, Brazil (5-1) downed Canada in four sets and swept Argentina ahead of the showdown with Russia.
Cuba is making its first Final Four appearance since 2009, and fifth overall. The Cubans are in search of their first U21 title, after finishing as runner up in 1987 and 2009. The team also earned podium finishes in 2005 and 1985, taking home the bronze. This year, Cuba has managed a 4-2 record. After dropping its opener to Russia in Pool B, the team responded with a sweep of the United States and a five-set win over Turkey. In Pool E action, the Cubans topped Iran in five sets and China in four, but were swept by Poland.
Poland is in its first Final Four showing since winning the title in 2003. The team grabbed the 1997 title in its only other Final Four appearance. In 2017, the Polish side (6-0) cruised through Pool A, downing Morocco, the Czech Republic and Canada in sweeps, and carried on to a trio of Pool E wins over China, Cuba and Iran.
Russia will take on Cuba at 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, while Brazil will face Poland at 2 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on the FIVB YouTube channel.
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