In Pool B in Katowice supporters can’t get bored. Brazil beats Finland in straight sets and clinched a spot in second round.

 

 

wchm 2014 - kor-cub over

Korea: S.S.Han, K.I.Jeon (7), Y.S.Shin (7), C.W.Park (14), S.S.Kwak (4), S.H.Park (5), Y.C.Bu (L), M.S.Jeong (L) and M.G.Song (2), J.D.Seo (2), M.H.Choi (4), M.G.Lee (3)
Cuba: Macias (3), Jimenez (12), Fiel (6), Cepeda (10), Uriarte (17), Chapman (14), Gutierrez (L) and Osoria (1), Alfonso (4), Romero, Calvo, Mesa

The beginning of the first was very even with huge spikes from both sides of the court. At 6-6, Seung-Suk Kwak presented an ace what was followed by Cuba’s fine attack. Shortly after that, Korea forced high Cuba’s triple block, what pushed them to the leading 8-7 at the first technical timeout. Three Cuba’s mistakes helped Korea with running up 15-12 ahead and forced Rodolfo Sanchez to call a timeout. However, this short break didn’t help his players with regaining the power and it was Korea who led at the second technical timeout. After two Korea’s spike errors and a great spike by Rodriguez Livan Osoria, Cuba not only caught up, but run 20-18 ahead. Myung-Geun Song helped Cuba to finish the set 25-21 with his service error.  
 
It was Cuba who took a clear lead in the second set. Being ahead 8-4 at the first technical timeout, Cuba continued their efforts to make their leading higher. With well playing Felix Chapman, Osmany Uriarte and David Fiel, they could easily control the game and put bigger pressure on Korea team. Yung-Suk Shin reduced Cuba’s leading to one point by playing an ace and well organised defence helped Korea with setting fine spikes what pushed them 23-22 ahead. Balanced ending of the second set was finished 25-23 with Cuba’s out attack.  
 
It was Korea, who came into the game more confidently, leading 3-1. Nevertheless, after an aggressive serve and a huge spike of Osmany Uriarte, Cuba went 6-4 ahead. This leading didn’t last long and after a spike by Min-Ho Choi and ace served by Min-Gyu Lee, Korea was 8-6 ahead during the first technical timeout. It didn’t weaken Cuba, who regained the leading (13-11) after an ace by Rolando Cepeda. Being pushed forward by David Fiel, Abrahan Alfonso and Felix Chapman, Cuba led 16-11 at the second technical timeout and at 19-12 forced Korea’s coach to ask for a break. However, this short rest didn’t help his team and Cuba won the third set 25-14. 
 
Playing balanced game, both teams couldn’t have managed with taking a comfortable leading at the beginning of the fourth set . Due to fine-played dig and effective spikes, Korea gained three points of advance (9-6). Cuba tried hard to catch up and playing a triple block by Alfonso, Mesa and Macias, they reduced Korea’s leading to 2 points. With Osmany Uriarte spike, Cuba caught up at 17-17, going forward with 23-21 and held the leading till the end of the match, winning the fourth set 25-22.

 

wchm 2014 - ger-tun over

Germany: Kampa (2), Fromm (10), Böhme (12), Schöps (9), Kaliberda (10), Broshog (7), Steuerwald (L) and Kühner (1), Westpahl (7), Andrei (1), Grozer (5)
Tunisia: Sellami, Nagga (4), Miladi (2), Garci (12), Karamosli (2), Agrebi (2), Taouerghi (L) and Moalla (3), Kaabi (3), Ben Slimene, Ben Othmen Miladi (9)

Strong spike by Denys Kaliberda of Germany opened the first set. Tunisia answered with an efficient dink, but it was Germany who run 4-1 ahead and forced Fethi Mkaouar to ask for the timeout. Continuing with good reception and fine spikes, Germans added a double block by Christian Fromm and Marcus Böhme and a single one performed by Fromm and increased their leading to 13-7. Tunisia with their problems with playing efficient counter-attacks, lost touch with Germans, who led comfortably 16-8 at the second technical timeout. Vital Heynen’s players stayed focused keeping a firm grip of their advantage till the end of the first set, making their attack efficiency (13 points against Tunisia’s 4) the main clue to win 25-13. 
 
Playing even at the beginning of the set number two, both teams fought hard to make some advantage. Marcus  Böhme helped with jumping out to leading 7-4 with a huge middle spike. Just after that, Christian Fromm adding an ace built 8-4 score at the first technical timeout. Trying their best Nabil Miladi and Marouen Garci, weren’t able to form an efficient block to stop aggressively spiking Germans, who extended their leading throughout the rest of the set number two (16-9 at the second technical timeout). Miladi Ben Othmen put all his efforts to help his team with catching up the score, but staying focused Germany romped into a victory 25-19. 
 
Ten minutes break between set helped Tunisia with refocusing so that they came back into the game 6-5 ahead. After an effective triple blocked by Slimene Khaled Ben, Nabil Miladi and Ismail Moalla, Tunisia led 8-5 during the first technical timeout. After fine defence, Tunisia were able to play efficient counter-attacks what Ismail Moalla used, pushing his team 10-6 ahead. Keeping the advantage, Tunisia added fine spikes and made 5 points led (19-14), putting a pressure on German team. However, Germany caught up at 19-19 after left-wing spike by Denys Kaliberda. Tunisia didn’t flounder their big advantage so that they won the set 25-21. 
 
Returning to the game focused, Germany run 4-1 ahead. Fine block by György Grozer, followed by his huge right-wing spike increased Germany’s leading to 7-1 and forced Fethi Mkaouar to call for the timeout. Adding consecutive points, Grozer extended his team’s leading to 13-4. Elyes Karamosli did his best to force Germany’s block, but single efficient actions did not prevent Germans from going confidently to the end of the fourth set.
 

wchm 2014 - bra-fin over

Brazil: Raphael (3), Lucarelli (19), Lucas (12), Wallace (18), Murilo (4), Sidao (4), Felipe Silva (L), Mario Junior (L) and Visotto (1), Felipe Fonteles (1), Eder
Finalnd: Tervaportti (3), Kunnari (9), Shumov (3), Ojansivu (16), Siltala (6), Ma.Oivanen (7), Kerminen (L) and Esko, Lehtonen, Mi.Oivanen (4), Seppänen (1)

Very tight game at the beginning of the first set prevented both teams from jumping out to clear leading. Pushing by their fans gathered in thousands at Spodek hall, Finland came into the game with strong kills. Olli-Pekka Ojansivu helped his team with gaining a leading, but shortly after that Brazil answered with a huge spike. At 7-6 Lucarelli displayed fine middle spike and helped Brazil being one point ahead at the first technical timeout. After Lucarelli’s ace, Canarinhos increased their leading to two points (14-12). Fine defence helped Finland with playing a great spike, catching up at 18-18 and forcing Bernardo Rezende to ask for a timeout. Finland wasted their set ball and Wallace put Brazil 26-25 ahead what helped his team to win the set 27-25. 
 
Brazil performed a strong opening of the set number two with going 2-0 ahead, but Finland caught up quickly by forming a successive block (2-2). From the very beginning the game was held point by point and just opponent’s mistakes were the key to Brazil’s leading 8-7. Ojansivu’s right-wing kill made an even, but Brazil didn’t stay passive- they quickly run 14-12 ahead and led 16-14 at the second technical timeout after fine Wallace’s spike. After two point serves played by Matti Oivanen, Finland not only caught up, but changed the scores to 19-18. Brazil answered quickly with a fine Lucarelli’s serve series which helped them to regained the leading and win the second set 25-21. 
 
Third set started with a tight game, as it was in two previous ones. Nonetheless, it was Finland who gained a 7-5 leading, after a fine serve by Matti Oivanen. Making a use of opponent’s poor reception and Olli-Pekka Ojansivu kill, Tuomas Sammelvuo’s players run 10-6 ahead. Brazil with Walle’s huge spike followed by an ace and Lucarelli’s kill, reduced Finland’s leading to two points (13-11), but after a fine series of Ojansivu and Matti Oivanen, they were Finland who led 16-11 at the second technical timeout. Despite quite a big Finland’s advance, Brazil managed to take back touch and at 22-22 Finland’s coach ask for the timeout. This break didn’t help his team to regain focus and eventually the third set ended 26-24 after Lucarelli’s kill.

 

Standings:

Rank Team Win/Loss Sets Ratio Points Ratio Points
1. Brazil 3/0 MAX 1.325 9
2. Germany 2/1 1.500 1.140 6
3. Finalnd 2/1 1.200 1.012 5
4. Cuba 1/2 0.714 1.003 4
5. Korea 1/2 0.571 0.923 3
6. Tunisia 0/3 0.222 0.749 0

Photo and infographics: FIVB