VIDEO REPLAY: Brazil & France Set For Rematch of Legendary 2006 Final

2017 FIVB WORLD LEAGUE – GROUP 1 CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

• Group 1 Semifinals
• July 8, 2017
• Curitiba, Brazil
• FIVB World League Semifinals
• Schedule/Results

With twin 3-1 wins in the semifinals, Brazil and France will meet for the World League Group 1 final in a rematch of a legendary 2006 showdown that still holds up as one of the all-time great World League showdowns.

That 2006 match took place in Moscow, Russia in front of about 7200 fans. The marathon two-hour match went to a thrilling five sets, with no set being won by more than 3 points. In fact, Brazil won the match 3-2, but only finished with a 110-108 margin in total points.

France jumped out to a two-set lead, winning 25-22 and 25-23 in the opening sets. But Brazil stormed back to identical 25-22 and 25-23 set wins to even things up. At this point one hour and thirty-eight minutes into the match in pure play time, the two teams went another twenty minutes in a 15-13 Brazil win. The lengthy match led to some gaudy stats, including 23 spikes for Brazilian leader Gilberto Godoy Filho.

You can watch that match itself in full length below, courtesy of Pole Ressources Volley on YouTube:

This year’s final will take place in front of a home Brazilian crowd, with attendance expected to far outstrip the 7200 from 2006. Brazil’s semifinal match against the United States pulled 9500 fans by itself. You can check out our full match preview here.