Pool C
Japan
World ranking: 2nd
10th time in two consecutive tournaments
Best result: 1st place (1972)
This is the team with the most momentum right now. They placed third in last year's Nations League, and second this year, and are also ranked second in the world rankings, their highest ever ranking, and are widely regarded as the strongest team of all time. The team's precise, solid, and dynamic volleyball, built around Coach Blanc, who has been leading the team since 2017, has captivated and won over spectators from all over the world. The core of the team is captain Toshiaki, who has already played in the world's top Italian league for nine seasons.Yuki IshikawaBut the oppositeNishida Yuji, outside hitterAi Takahashi, LiberoTomohiro YamamotoHe is one of the best players in the world at each position.
Attack: ★★★★
Block: ★★★
Serve: ★★★★★
Receive: ★★★★★★
Toss: ★★★★★
member
Director: Philippe Brun (France)
*1 Nishida Yuji OP 2000/01/30 187cm Osaka Bulleteon
*2 Futoshi Onodera MB 1996/02/27 200cm Suntory Sunbirds Osaka
*3 Akihiro Fukatsu S 1987/7/23 183cm Tokyo Great Bears
*4 Kento Miyaura OP 1999/02/22 190cm JTEKT STINGS
*5 Tatsunori Otsuka OH 2000/11/05 194cm Milan (Italy)
*6 Akira Yamauchi MB 1993/11/30 204cm Osaka Bulleteon
*8 Seita Sekita S 1993/11/20 175cm JTEKT STINGS
10 Kentaro Takahashi MB 1995/02/08 201cm JTEKT STINGS
12 Ai Takahashi OH 2001/09/02 188cm Suntory Sunbirds Osaka
14 Yuki Ishikawa (C) OH 1995/12/11 191cm Perugia (Italy)
15 Yuto Kai OH 2003/09/25 200cm Senshu University
20 Tomohiro Yamamoto L 1994/11/05 171cm Osaka Bulleteon
Reserve
11 Masama Tomita OH 1997/06/20 190cm Osaka Bulleteon
Featured Players
Yuki Ishikawa (outside hitter, 191cm)
A leader of Japan who is now considered one of the best players in the world. Like other Japanese players, he is short compared to players from other countries, but he is a complete all-rounder who excels in all skills. This year in particular, he stepped up his game at crucial moments, scoring a lot of goals and leading the team. At the end of the Nations League final, he made a mistake in his attacking choices and conceded many goals, but he overcame that and will be at the top next time.
America
World ranking: 5th
13th time in 11 consecutive tournaments
Best result: Winner (1984, 1988, 2008)
They are a strong team that won against Japan in last year's Olympic qualifying and qualified for the Paris Olympics with a perfect record. The only teams Japan has not been able to beat in recent years when playing against a full team are Poland and the United States. In this year's Nations League, they missed out on advancing to the finals due to injuries, but they will be in top form for the Paris Olympics. They have been the starting setter for the United States national team for 10 years.KusuritensonFrom the toss, the oppositeAndersonand outside hittersDefalco, Middle BlockerHoltHigh-powered attackers such as these continued to score points.
Attack: ★★★★★
Block: ★★★★★
Serve: ★★★★
Receive: ★★★★
Toss: ★★★★★
member
Director: John Sparrow
*1 Matthew Anderson OP/OH 1987 208cm Zirrat Bankkart (Türkiye)
*2 Aaron Russell OH 1993 205cm Zawiercie (Poland)
*4 Jeffrey Gendrick MB 1995 208cm ?
*8 Torey Defalco OH 1997 198cm JTEKT STINGS
11 Micah Christenson (C) S 1993 198 Kazan (Russia)
12 Maxwell Holt MB 1987 205cm Beijing (China)
14. Maika Marr S 1997 192cm Halkbank (Türkiye)
17 Thomas Jeske OH 1993 198cm Osaka Bulletion
18 Garret Muagtutia OH 1988 195cm Spor Toto Spor Kulübü (Türkiye)
19 Taylor Avril MB 1992 195cm Monza (Italy)
20 David Smith MB 1985 202cm Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Poland)
22 Eric Shoji L 1989 184cm Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Poland)
Reserve
*5 Kyle Ensin OP 1997 201cm Zawiercie (Poland)
Featured Players
Matthew Anderson (Opposite/Outside hitter, 208cm)
He is the center of the US attack. His original position is outside hitter, but since 2013 he has played opposite for the US national team and led the team. He scores a lot of points with his powerful spikes and serves from a flexible form. He is the only opposite out of the 12 registered members of the Paris Olympic team, and is a key player in the sense that he is irreplaceable. Given his age, this is probably his last Olympics. Will he be able to finish on a high note?
Argentina
World ranking: 8th
9th time in 4 consecutive tournaments
Best result: 3rd place (1988, 2021)
At the last Tokyo Olympics, Argentina won the bronze medal by defeating Italy in the quarterfinals and Brazil in the third-place deciding match. With her solid blocks and receives, she has long reigned as the world's number one setter.DececcoThe opposite side will be the source of the points.LimaHowever, the outside hitter who will be playing in Japan from next seasonPalonskyHe also has a lot of talent and is a highly skilled scorer.RosellAlso be careful of blocks.
Attack: ★★★★
Block: ★★★★★
Serve: ★★★★
Receive: ★★★★
Toss: ★★★★★
member
Directed by: Marcelo Mendes
*1 Matias Sanchez S 1996 173cm Suwałki (Poland)
*3 Yann Martinez OH 1998 190cm Tourcoing (France)
*7 Facundo Conte OH 1989 197cm Buenos Aires
*8 Agustin Rosell MB 1997 197cm Perugia (Italy)
*9 Santiago Danani L 1995 176cm Novy Urengoy (Russia)
12 Bruno Lima OP 1996 198cm Renata (Brazil)
15 Luciano Dececco (C) S 1988 191cm Modena (Italy)
16 Pablo Kukartsev OP 1993 203cm Tourcoing (France)
17 Luciano Visentin OH 2000 197cm Jastrzębski Wegiel (Poland)
18. Martin Ramos MB 1991 197cm Club Voleibol Guaguas (Spain)
21 Luciano Palonski OH 1999 198cm Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers
22 Nicolas Selva MB 1999 203cm Nysa (Poland)
Reserve
13 Ezequiel Palacios OH 1992 198cm Montpellier (France)
Featured Players
Agustin Rosell (Argentina, 197cm)
He is a middle blocker with unrivaled scoring ability, and is able to perform all plays at a high level, including blocks, quicks, and serves, with his outstanding physical abilities. At 197cm, he is smaller than Japanese middle blockers, but is highly regarded as the world's number one. At Milan (Italy), he played with Ishikawa Yuki, and showed his dexterity as a middle blocker, even receiving serves. He is scheduled to be teammates with Ishikawa at Perugia (Italy) next season. He has a baby face, but he gets a little hot-headed, and it is not uncommon for him to receive yellow cards.
Germany
World ranking: 10th
5th time in 3 tournaments (including East and West Germany)
Best result: runner-up (1972 (East Germany))
Germany surprised volleyball fans around the world by defeating the host country Brazil and the powerful Italy in last year's Olympic qualifiers and qualifying for the Paris Olympics with a perfect record. Since the appointment of coach Wijnalski, the team has become solid and defense-oriented. In this year's Nations League, they pushed Japan to the brink of a full set. The key to Germany's Olympic appearance was the oppositeGlozelThere is an outside hitter who is showing remarkable growth.brandor middle blockerBrehmeThe setter and captainDonationHe has a lot of experience. Personally, I think he is the biggest dark horse in this tournament.
Attack: ★★★★
Block: ★★★★
Serve: ★★★★★
Receive: ★★★★★
Toss: ★★★★
member
Director: Michal Wienialski (Poland)
*1 Christian Fromm OH 1990 204cm Rapid București (Romania)?
*5 Moritz Reichardt OH 1995 194cm Berlin
*6 Johannes Tille S 1997 186cm Berlin
*9 Georgi Grozer OP 1984 200cm Arkas Spor (Türkiye)
10 Julian Zenger L 1997 190cm Padova (Italy)
11 Lukas Kampa (C) S 1986 196cm Gdańsk (Poland)
12 Anton Brehme MB 1999 206cm Jastrzębski Węgiel (Poland)
13 Ruben Schott OH 1994 193cm Berlin
14 Moritz Kaliczek OH/OP 1996 191cm Olsztyn (Poland)
21 Tobias Klick MB 1998 210cm Berlin
22 Tobias Brand OH 1998 195cm Warszawa (Poland)
25 Lucas Maase MB 1998 208cm Chaumont (France)
Reserve
17 Jan Zimmermann S 1993 191cm Taranto (Italy)
Featured Players
Georgi Grozer (Opposite, 200cm)
He is a veteran ace who turns 40 this year. However, his skills are still strong, and in last year's Olympic qualifiers, he averaged about 19 points per game and had an attacking efficiency rate of 541 TP3T, making a major contribution to Germany's first Olympic appearance in 12 years. He didn't get many opportunities to play in this year's Nations League, probably because he was trying to adjust his condition, and he wasn't in great form either, but he is a player who always plays at his peak, so he will surely be a threat at the actual Paris Olympics.
[PR] "ALL for DREAM -Footsteps to Glory- Japan Volleyball National Team Nations League 2024" will be available on U-NEXT from July 27th (Sat.)
A documentary program that closely follows the unknown behind-the-scenes of the "Volleyball Nations League 2024" and traces the fierce battles will be streamed on U-NEXT.
[Distribution date and time]
July 27th (Saturday) 5pm Boys #1 Boys #2
August 3rd (Saturday) 5pm Women's #1
Saturday, August 10th 5pm Women's #2
Saturday, August 24th 5pm Men's #3
Saturday, August 31st 5pm Women's #3
September 7th (Saturday) 5pm Men's #4
Saturday, September 14th 5pm Women's #4
(Quoted from TBS TV release)
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Photo: FIVB
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