2010 Men's Volleyball World Championship

The 2010 men's volleyball world championship took place in Italy from September 25th to October 10th . The Brazilians successfully defended their title against Cuba in the final . The German team reached eighth place and thus the best result since the 1974 World Cup .

mode

The tournament began with a preliminary round in six groups (A – F) with four teams each. The draw took place on October 28, 2009 in Rome . The three best teams in each group reached the second round, which was held in six groups with three participants each. The group winners and runners-up in the second round played in four groups of three in the third round. If the number of points was equal, it was not the sentence ratio, but the ball point quotient (BPQ) that decided the order of the placements. After the three group phases, the placement games for ranks one to twelve followed.

game schedule

First round

In Group A, the hosts started with two clear victories against Egypt and Japan. The Iranian team won two sets in the last game against Italy, but missed the next round due to the poorer ball point quotient. In Group B, Spain had to admit defeat in the tie-break against Cuba and after a hard-fought game against Brazil. The Cubans secured the group victory in five sets against the South Americans, while Tunisia remained without a win.

Group A in Milan
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Italy	9: 2	6th	1.266
2.	Egypt	5: 6	4th	0.957
3.	Japan	4: 8	4th	0.945
4th	Iran	5: 7	4th	0.895

25th of September	Egypt	Iran	3-0
	Italy	Japan	3-0
September 26th	Iran	Japan	3: 1
	Egypt	Italy	0: 3
September 27th	Japan	Egypt	3: 2
	Italy	Iran	3: 2

Group B in Verona
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Cuba	9: 4	6th	1.125
2.	Brazil	8: 4	5	1.137
3.	Spain	6: 7	4th	0.967
4th	Tunisia	1: 9	3	0.768

25th of September	Brazil	Tunisia	3-0
	Spain	Cuba	2: 3
September 26th	Tunisia	Cuba	0: 3
	Brazil	Spain	3: 1
September 27th	Spain	Tunisia	3: 1
	Cuba	Brazil	3: 2

The Russians took first place in Group C with three wins. The direct competitor Puerto Rico lost the last game 2: 3. Cameroon achieved their first victory at a world championship with their success against Australia. In Group D, the USA had to turn a 2-0 deficit against Mexico, but managed to win the group unbeaten. Argentina made it through to the next round in second, while Venezuela couldn't win a set.

Group C in Modena
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Russia	9: 3	6th	1.263
2.	Puerto Rico	8: 4	5	1.030
3.	Cameroon	3: 7	4th	0.899
4th	Australia	3: 9	3	0.855

25th of September	Russia	Cameroon	3-0
	Australia	Puerto Rico	1: 3
September 26th	Cameroon	Puerto Rico	0: 3
	Russia	Australia	3: 1
September 27th	Australia	Cameroon	1: 3
	Puerto Rico	Russia	2: 3

Group D in Reggio Calabria
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	United States	9: 3	6th	1.102
2.	Argentina	7: 4	5	1.136
3.	Mexico	6: 6	4th	0.950
4th	Venezuela	0: 9	3	0.804

25th of September	Venezuela	Argentina	0: 3
	United States	Mexico	3: 2
September 26th	Argentina	Mexico	3: 1
	Venezuela	United States	0: 3
September 27th	Mexico	Venezuela	3-0
	United States	Argentina	3: 1

In Group E, the French were only able to defeat competitors Czech Republic and Bulgaria, who also progressed, in the tiebreak. China had no chance with only one set won. The German team initially suffered a significant defeat against Serbia in Group F and then lost to group winners Poland in the tie-break. With a 3-0 win against outsiders Canada, the DVV selection got into the second round because of the better ball point quotient.

Group E in Turin
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	France	9: 4	6th	1.142
2.	Czech Republic	8: 5	5	1.007
3.	Bulgaria	6: 6	4th	1.025
4th	People's Republic of China	1: 9	3	0.807

25th of September	France	Czech Republic	3: 2
	Bulgaria	China	3-0
September 26th	Czech Republic	China	3: 1
	France	Bulgaria	3: 2
September 27th	Bulgaria	Czech Republic	1: 3
	China	France	0: 3

Group F in Trieste
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Poland	9: 3	6th	1.134
2.	Serbia	5: 6	4th	1.029
3.	Germany	5: 6	4th	0.948
4th	Canada	3: 7	4th	0.888

25th of September	Poland	Canada	3-0
	Germany	Serbia	0: 3
September 26th	Canada	Serbia	3: 1
	Poland	Germany	3: 2
September 27th	Germany	Canada	3-0
	Serbia	Poland	1: 3

Second round

Germany lost their encounter with the hosts in Group G after their successful start against Puerto Rico and ultimately benefited from the Italians' victory against the Caribbean team. In Group H, the Serbs 3-1 against Cuba were enough to take first place, as both competitors had no problems with Mexico.

Group G in Catania
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Italy	6: 2	4th	1.139
2.	Germany	4: 3	3	0.994
3.	Puerto Rico	1: 6	2	0.869

30. September	Puerto Rico	Germany	0: 3
October 1	Germany	Italy	1: 3
October 2nd	Italy	Puerto Rico	3: 1

Group H in Milan
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1	Serbia	6: 1	4th	1,145
2	Cuba	4: 3	3	1.095
3	Mexico	0: 6	2	0.770

30. September	Cuba	Serbia	1: 3
October 1	Mexico	Cuba	0: 3
October 2nd	Serbia	Mexico	3-0

In Group I, the match between Russia and Spain caused a controversial discussion about the mode, as the Russians deliberately lost after leading 2-0 to come second in the supposedly easier group of the third round. After the Americans lost 3-0 to the Czech Republic in Group L, the underdog Cameroon just missed another win against the Olympic champion.

Group I in Catania
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Spain	6: 3	4th	1.095
2.	Russia	5: 3	3	1.119
3.	Egypt	1: 6	2	0.792

30. September	Russia	Egypt	3-0
October 1	Spain	Russia	3: 2
October 2nd	Egypt	Spain	1: 3

Group L in Ancona
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Czech Republic	6-0	4th	1.304
2.	United States	3: 5	3	1.048
3.	Cameroon	2: 6	2	0.771

30. September	United States	Czech Republic	0: 3
October 1	Cameroon	United States	2: 3
October 2nd	Czech Republic	Cameroon	3-0

In Group M, France secured second place after losing to Argentina with a win against the eliminated Japanese. The reigning European champions Poland were eliminated in Group N after two 3-0 defeats. The fact that the Brazilians didn't win a set against Bulgaria afterwards intensified public criticism of this tournament.

Group M in Milan
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Argentina	6: 2	4th	1,096
2.	France	4: 3	3	1.039
3.	Japan	1: 6	2	0.867

30. September	France	Argentina	1: 3
October 1	Japan	France	0: 3
October 2nd	Argentina	Japan	3: 1

Group N in Ancona
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Bulgaria	6-0	4th	1.304
2.	Brazil	3: 3	3	1.015
3.	Poland	0: 6	2	0.753

30. September	Poland	Brazil	0: 3
October 1	Bulgaria	Poland	3-0
October 2nd	Brazil	Bulgaria	0: 3

Third round

The hosts reached the semi-finals unbeaten in Group O. The US team finished second after beating France. In Group P, Serbia ended the Russians' chances of a top place with two wins.

Group O
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Italy	6: 2	4th	1.067
2.	United States	4: 3	3	1.179
3.	France	1: 6	2	0.783

4th of October	France	United States	0: 3
5th October	United States	Italy	1: 3
October 6th	Italy	France	3: 1

Group p
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Serbia	6: 2	4th	1.085
2.	Russia	4: 3	3	1.147
3.	Argentina	1: 6	2	0.784

4th of October	Serbia	Argentina	3: 1
5th October	Serbia	Russia	3: 1
October 6th	Argentina	Russia	0: 3

In Group Q, Bulgaria and Cuba faced each other after 3-1 victories against Spain in the decisive game and the Cubans achieved first place despite two deficits. The German team lost to Brazil in three sets in Group R after they had previously managed a 3-0 against the Czechs, who were only inferior to the South Americans in the tie-break.

Group Q
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Cuba	6: 3	4th	1.010
2.	Bulgaria	5: 4	3	1.038
3.	Spain	2: 6	2	0.948

4th of October	Spain	Bulgaria	1: 3
5th October	Cuba	Spain	3: 1
October 6th	Bulgaria	Cuba	2: 3

Group R
	team	sentences	Points	BPQ
1.	Brazil	6: 2	4th	1.194
2.	Germany	3: 3	3	1.016
3.	Czech Republic	2: 6	2	0.827

4th of October	Czech Republic	Brazil	2: 3
5th October	Germany	Czech Republic	3-0
October 6th	Brazil	Germany	3-0

Final round and placement games

In the first semi-final in Rome , Cuba prevailed against Serbia after a hard-fought game in the tiebreaker. The Brazilians then defeated the hosts. Italy also lost the game for third place the next day. In the final against Cuba, three sets were enough for the defending champion to become world champion again.

	Semifinals				final
	9th October
	Serbia	2
	Cuba	3
					October 10th
					Cuba	0
					Brazil	3
					3rd place match
	9th October				October 10th
	Italy	1			Serbia	3
	Brazil	3			Italy	1

The German team could n't win a set against the USA and Bulgaria in Modena and ended up in eighth place. The Russians secured fifth place with a 3-0 win against the Olympic champion.

	Placement games 5-8				Play for 5th place
	8th October
	Russia	3
	Bulgaria	1
					9th October
					Russia	3
					United States	0
					Game for 7th place
	8th October				9th October
	United States	3			Bulgaria	3
	Germany	0			Germany	0

Argentina beat Spain and the Czech Republic at the placement games in Florence . The French won the game for eleventh place.

	Placement games 9-12				Play for 9th place
	8th October
	Argentina	3
	Spain	1
					9th October
					Argentina	3
					Czech Republic	1
					Game for 11th place
	8th October				9th October
	France	0			Spain	1
	Czech Republic	3			France	3

Final score

Brazil won the title for the third time in a row. For the defeated finalist from Cuba it was the greatest success since 1990 when they reached the final at the World Cup in Brazil. After two fourth places, the Serbs won a medal again. Germany came in eighth, the last time a German team had a better result when the GDR came fourth in 1974.

Germany played with Patrick Steuerwald , Simon Tischer , Lukas Bauer , Marcus Böhme , Max Günthör , Georg Grozer , Jochen Schöps , Björn Andrae , Denis Kaliberda , Robert Kromm , Sebastian Schwarz , Christian Dünnes , Sebastian Prüsener and Ferdinand Tille . The coach was Raúl Lozano .

1.	Brazil
2.	Cuba
3.	Serbia
4th	Italy
5.	Russia
6th	United States
7th	Bulgaria
8th.	Germany
9.	Argentina
10.	Czech Republic
11.	France
12.	Spain
13.	Puerto Rico
	Mexico
	Egypt
	Cameroon
	Japan
	Poland
19th	Iran
	Tunisia
	Australia
	Venezuela
	People's Republic of China
	Canada

Individual awards

The new world champion had the most valuable player of the tournament on his team. For Cuba, despite having the best blocker, it wasn't quite enough to win the title. Serbia made it to the semi-finals with the best setter, while the other teams, despite their outstanding players, were no more than fifth.

Most Valuable Player (MVP)	Murilo Endres	Brazil
best scorer	Iban Perez	Spain
best attacker	Maxim Michailowitsch Michailow	Russia
best blocker	Robertlandy Simon	Cuba
best server	Clayton Stanley	United States
best libero	Ferdinand Tille	Germany
best player	Nikola Grbić	Serbia

media

In Germany, Sport1 showed the games with German participation live in an internet stream . The games for places five to eight could not be seen online. Since the beginning of October there have been additional broadcasts on the new pay-TV channel Sport1 + .

qualification

The continental qualifiers were played from December 2008 to August 2009.

Europe

The European teams played for eight starting places next to hosts Italy . In the first round there were two groups of three and four. The group winners Belarus , Latvia , Romania and Montenegro qualified for the second round, which was held in two groups of four and two groups of five. In Group E, the German team prevailed against the Belarusians and Croatia and reached the third round as runners-up behind Slovakia . In Group F, the Netherlands and Estonia were successful. From the other two groups, three teams each progressed, namely Portugal , Romania and Slovenia as well as Finland , the Czech Republic and Belgium . The respective group winners and runners-up of the four groups of four in the third round qualified for the world championship. In Group I, Germany finished second behind Russia with successes against Finland and Belgium . Bulgaria and the Czech Republic prevailed against the Netherlands and Portugal; Poland and France won against Slovakia and Slovenia; Serbia and Spain took first place ahead of Romania and Estonia.

Africa

The African qualification, in which it was a question of three places, started with seven teams in the second round, of which only Malawi was eliminated. In the third round there were three groups of four, the winners of which qualified for the world championship. Egypt won against Nigeria , Morocco and Botswana . Tunisia prevailed against Algeria , Kenya and Mozambique . Cameroon was group winners ahead of South Africa , Mauritius and Zimbabwe .

Asia

In the first round of the Asian qualification, in which four participants were determined, Tonga (Group A), Pakistan and Bangladesh (Group B) and all teams in Group C (Qatar, Oman and UAE) advanced. The second round was held in three groups of four. The group winners Iran, Thailand and Kazakhstan as well as the group runner-up India reached the third round with two groups of four, from which the two best teams qualified for the World Cup. In Group G, China and Australia were successful against India and Thailand. In Group H, Japan and Iran prevailed against South Korea and Kazakhstan.

North and Central America

Five teams from the NORCECA association qualified for the world championship. In the first round there were two groups of five, the winners of which St. Lucia and Antigua / Barbuda reached the second round, which was held in two groups of six and one group of seven. Suriname, the US Virgin Islands, Mexico, the Bahamas, Panama and Guatemala came through as group winners and second. The three winners of the groups of four in the third round ( USA , Puerto Rico and Cuba ) qualified directly for Italy. The group runners-up and one group third played a playoff round in which Canada and Mexico prevailed against the Dominican Republic and Panama .

South America

The South American qualification was held in two groups of four with eight participants. In Group A Argentina won against Colombia , Chile and Bolivia . Venezuela won Group B ahead of Paraguay , Uruguay and Ecuador .

Web links

• official World Cup homepage (Italian / English)
• Information from the FIVB (English)
• Information from the DVV

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Lars Becker: Scandal! Amounted to! Farce! n-tv , October 2, 2010, accessed October 12, 2010 .