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| 2006 Men’s
Volleyball World Championship: |
Second Round day 3
Bulgaria, Poland,
Serbia and Montenegro claim semi-final berths
 Hiroshima/Sendai,
28th November 2006 – After the penultimate day of the
second round of the FIVB Men’s World Championship on
Tuesday, the Pool E semi-final berths are already taken
as Serbia and Montenegro and Poland extended their
unbeaten record. Despite tough competition in Pool F,
Bulgaria also extended their clean sheet to stay at the
top and secure their first semi-final appearance in 20
years, while the remaining berth could go to defending
champions Brazil (who face the undefeated Bulgaria
tomorrow), France or Italy, who go head-to-head tomorrow
in a European knockout.
Poland and Serbia and Montenegro advance to semis from
Pool E
Puerto Rico beat Canada in straight sets on Tuesday to
improve their record to 2-4 in Pool E and ensure a place
in the final round. Led by tournament top scorer Hector
Soto with another dazzling performance, Puerto Rico won
25-22, 25-21, 25-16 to leave Canada at 1-5 and unsure of
a place in the Tokyo playoffs.
Argentina came back from 2-1 down to beat Tunisia 3-2 in
a desperate struggle at Sendai City Gymnasium. The South
Americans won 25-20, 25-27, 21-25, 25-21,
15-12 to improve their win-loss record to 1-5 and drop
Tunisia to 0-6.
Poland pulled off an astonishing comeback from 2-0 down
to beat the mighty Russians in five sets Tuesday and
advance to the semi-finals. The third-ranked Russians
fell apart after a devastating display in the first two
sets and Poland showed unbelievable tenacity to win an
incredible match 19-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-11 in
front of an electric crowd.
Serbia and Montenegro joined Poland in the semi-finals
by crushing Japan in straight sets. The fourth-ranked
Balkans beat world No. 10 Japan 28-26, 25-16, 25-21 to
improve their win-loss record to 6-0 and drop Japan to
4-2 with one round of matches remaining in the second
round.
Bulgaria qualified; three-way split leaves remaining
semi-final spot open
Bulgaria came back from the dead against France to
preserve their unbeaten record and clinch their place in
the semi-finals. France had threatened to blow Pool F
wide open as they raced into a two-set lead, but
Bulgaria roared back to take the match 23-25, 22-25,
25-22, 25-22, 15-10 and book their ticket to Tokyo. The
result leaves Bulgaria clear at the top of Pool F with a
6-0 win-loss record, but means France must win their
final match against Italy to stand any chance of making
the knockout phase.
The United States won their first match of Pool F on
Tuesday with a closely fought
3-2 victory over Germany. The Americans battled hard for
a 30-28, 15-25, 24-26, 26-24, 15-13 victory that
improved their win-loss record in the group to 2-4,
which includes matches from Pool C in Nagano last week.
The Germans drop to 2-4 in Pool F after coming within
two points of victory in the fourth set. They are still
searching for their first victory in Hiroshima after
finishing second in Fukuoka's Pool B. The win enhanced
the United States' chances of qualifying for the
play-offs, coming two days after they took France to
five sets. The Germans also remain in the hunt with both
teams having one match remaining – the US against Cuba
and Germany against Czech Republic.
Brazil put one foot in the semi-finals after a
dominating straight sets victory over Italy. The South
Americans put daylight between themselves and their
rivals in the Pool F table with the 25-23, 25-20, 25-20
win, and ensured they will be in the qualification
shake-up even if they lose their last match against
already-safe Bulgaria. Italy must beat France in their
final match in Hiroshima to stand any chance of reaching
the knockout phase, but Brazil are now firmly in pole
position for the one remaining semi-final spot.
Cuba finally earned their much-desired first win in
Hiroshima with a difficult 3-1 victory over Pool F
rivals Czech Republic. The Cubans had to endure four
closely fought sets before emerging 31-29, 26-24, 24-26,
26-24 winners as they clung on to their hopes of
qualifying for a top six position in the group and
advancing to the play-offs in Tokyo. Their victory
improves their win-loss record to 1-5 while the Czechs’
0-6 leaves them unable to avoid elimination. Cuba must
now win their final match against the United States by a
comfortable margin on Wednesday to stand a chance of
progressing on points ratio.
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CGI
