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CONTENTS 05 FIVB PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 07 BVF PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 09 HISTORY 10 HOST CITY - SOFIA 14 HOST CITY - VARNA 18 HOST CITY - RUSE 22 MATCH SCHEDULE 26 ARGENTINA 27 AUSTRALIA 28 BELGIUM 29 TEAM BRAZIL 30 BULGARIA 31 CAMEROON 32 CANADA 33 CHINA 34 CUBA 35 DOMINICANA 36 EGYPT 37 FINLAND 38 FRANCE 39 IRAN 40 ITALY 41 JAPAN 42 NETHERLANDS 43 POLAND 44 PUERTO RICO 45 RUSSIA 46 SERBIA 47 SLOVENIA 48 TUNISIA 49 USA
ITALY- BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
FIVB VOLLEYBALL MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2018
I am delighted to welcome you all to the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. For the first time ever, Italy and Bulgaria will have the honour of jointly hosting the FIVB’s flagship volleyball event, which will take place from September 09 to 30, with matches being held in the Italian cities of Rome, Florence, Bari, Milan, Bologna, as well the Bulgarian cities of Ruse, Varna, Sofia. The finals will be held in Turin, Italy. The 19th edition of this FIVB flagship event will welcome the world’s best nations from all five Continental Confederations, to “act as one” and pursue their dream of becoming champions. With state-of-the-art technology and sport presentation in place, we will ensure the best possible experience for the fans and spectators from all over the world.
Dr. Ary S. Graça F° FIVB President
FIVB Official Supplier for 8years From 2017 to 2024.
Vo l l e y ba l l
The 2014 FIVB Men’s World Championship in Poland set a benchmark for the event, which saw over half a million fans attend the 103 matches over 23 days of thrilling action. Reigning champions Poland will of course look to confirm its status as the world’s best, but will face stiff competition from Brazil and Germany, the 2014 silver and bronze medallists respectively. Both will be hoping to be top of the podium this time around. I look forward to the exciting matches and great athletic performances, as we continue to work on becoming the world’s number one family sport.
Dr. Ary S. Graça F° FIVB President
04 /0 7
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
DEAR VOLLEYBALL FRIENDS, The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation is very proud to receive the FIVB recognition to host jointly with the Italian Volleyball Federation 2018 FIVB Men’s World Championship. Both countries have no common borders but they have common passion for Volleyball. They are among the most successful Volleyball nations participating in the years in all major Volleyball competitions. Additional advantage for the successful running of the World Championship will be the gained experience from the joined organisation by both countries of the 2015 CEV Men’s European Championship. And now Bulgaria and Italy have the honor to organize the first ever FIVB Men’s World Championship, hosted by two countries. Thanks to the strong support of the Bulgarian Government and the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Bulgaria have the honor to host the FIVB Men’s World Championship again after 48 years. Many Volleyball fans in Bulgaria remember the previous Men’s World Championship organised in Bulgaria in the distant 1970. Now the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation has the new opportunity to show that the traditions are fully kept and the hospitality for the foreign teams will be at the same high level as it was before. The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation is convinced that together with the Italian Volleyball Federation the World Championship is in good and experienced hands. Moreover, the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation is ready to meet the new higher requirements of FIVB
Yours sincerely, Dancho LAZAROV, President Bulgarian Volleyball Federation
in the field of marketing and social activities, in order to attract as much as possible volleyball fans from all the World in the modern and hospitable Sport halls Arena Armeec in Sofia, Palace of Culture and Sport in Varna and Arena Monbat in Ruse. The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation expresses its satisfaction of the confidence granted by FIVB and is highly motivated to obtain the positive esteem of the World Volleyball family for the smooth running of the competition in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian volleyball community has the honour to welcome all teams, officials and fans coming in our country for the 2018 FIVB Men’s World Championship and wishes to all of them unforgettable moments in Bulgaria.
Dancho LAZAROV President Bulgarian Volleyball Federation
06 /0 9
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HISTORY
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The 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship will be the 19th edition of the International Volleyball Federation’s signature event for men’s national teams. It will come after the record-breaking FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Poland 2014, which saw over half a million fans attend the 103 matches in the competition. For the first time ever, Italy and Bulgaria will have the honour of jointly hosting the FIVB’s premier volleyball event – the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, which will take place from September 10 to 30 with matches being held in Italian city Florence, Bulgarian cities Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofia and Varna, while the finals will be held in Turin, Italy.
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME In 2014, Poland was the 11th country to host the FIVB Men’s World Championship, after Czechoslovakia (1949, 1966), the Soviet Union (1952, 1962), France (1956, 1986), Brazil (1960, 1990), Argentina (1982, 2002), Italy (1978, 2010), Japan (1998, 2006), Bulgaria (1970), Mexico (1974) and Greece (1994). While 113 teams competed for a ticket to the 2010 World Championship, this number had risen to 148 for the 2014 edition with national teams ranging from Guadeloupe and the Ivory Coast to Yemen. There were a total of 103 matches, set in a new competition format for the 24 qualified teams in Poland. The teams were spread across four pools of six teams playing in a round-robin system with the top four teams advancing to a second round of preliminary matches featuring two pools of eight teams. The top three countries from each pool advanced to the third-round phase, followed by the semifinals and finals.
The rapid growth in the number of countries involved in the tournament’s qualifying process is emphatic proof of just how tough the competition is around the world. With six titles to its name, Russia’s predecessor, the Soviet Union, is the most successful nation since the first World Championship took place in 1949. However, it is now 32 years since their last gold medal, which they won in 1982 in Buenos Aires. Taking the gold medal on three occasions each are Brazil (2002, 2006, 2010) and Italy (1990, 1994, 1998), while Czechoslovakia and Poland triumphed on two occasions (1956, 1966 for Czechoslovakia and 1974 and 2014 f), and East Germany (1970), USA (1986) and Poland (1974) each have one title to their name. It goes without saying that the many volleyball fans in the host nation are hoping for Poland to repeat their World Championship triumph in Mexico City in 1974.
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HOST CITY - SOFIA
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
Arena Armeec was built in 2011. The main function of multifunctional sports hall is to provide Bulgarian athletes the best conditions for performing sport activities.
More than 25 types of sport can be practiced at the Arena Armeec Sofia: Aerobics, Basketball, Boxing, Wrestling, Badminton, Weight Lifting, Volleyball, Karate-do, KarateKyokushin, Bodybuilding, and Fitness Arm wrestling, Artistic gymnastics, Rhytmic gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Trampoline gymnastics, Acrobatic gymnastics, Shooting, Sambo, Sumo, Table Tennis, Tennis, Fencing, Chess etc. The hall offers plenty of opportunities for promoting wide variety of cultural events.
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. Founded thousands of years ago, today the city continues to develop as the country’s cultural and economic center. The city’s landmarks reflect more than 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupation. Medieval Boyana Church has 13th-century frescoes. Built by the Romans in the 4th century, St. George Rotunda Church has medieval and Ottoman decoration dating to the 10th century.
At present, the largest Bulgaria’s city has a population of 1,250,000. It’s in the west of the country, below Vitosha Mountain.
One of the symbols of Sofia is the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and it is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 10,000 people inside. Sofia is growing but it is not getting old!
The design of the hall reponds to all regulations of the international federations and their rules for organizing and running World and European Championships as well as high level commercial tournaments. In case of promoting concert events the telescopic stands can be entirely or partially folded. Additional chairs can be situated on the arena, as well as stands. Scene or podium can be built in every zone of the arena. During the big events the hall capacity can be extended up to 17 906 seats (with stands). The adjacent hall spaces can be used for revues, exhibitions etc.
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HOST CITY - VARNA
HOST CITY - VARNA Palace of Culture and Sports is a multifunctional complex, situated in a central location in the Sea Capital of Bulgaria - Varna.
Our rich experience, the extensive base and the professionalism are prerequisite for the creation of history for 49 years. The Palace of Culture and Sports was completed in 1968 and renovated in 2015.
Varna is a port city and seaside resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea, next to the coastal resorts of Golden Sands, St. Konstantin & Elena and Albena. A bar-lined waterfront promenade fronts 19th-century Primorski Park. Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria, with an area of 205 sq. km. Its situation on the Northern shore of the Black Sea, along with its richness in natural resources make it one of the famous resorts Europewide, definitely the largest one in the Black Sea region.
It’s famous for the “Gold of Varna,” 6,000-year-old Thracian jewelry discovered in a necropolis, which is displayed inside the Archaeological Museum, along with Greek, Roman and Ottoman antiquities.
It also happens to be on the crossroads between Western Europe and the Middle East. The climate in the area and its other natural conditions are favourable for the development of industry, trade, tourism and communications. Varna is an ideal place for investors with business interests in the Balkan region.
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
It is one of the symbols of the city and over the years it has become a point of holding cultural events, sports events, exhibitions and conferences.
The complex has three sports halls Kongresna Hall, Mladost Hall and Hall 20. Kongresna Hall is also known as the home of the Bulgarian national volleyball team. Palace of Culture and Sports has a large shopping center, offering opportunities for recreation and pleasant leisure.
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HOST CITY - RUSE
HOST CITY - RUSE Arena Monbat is an indoor arena located in Ruse, Bulgaria. It is one of the most modern venues in Southeastern Europe with a seating capacity of 5,100 spectators depending on its use.
Arena Monbat hosted three games from Group F of the EuroBasket Women 2017 qualification. It also hosted the FIVB Volleyball Grand Prix, where the national team of Bulgaria played against Kazakhstan, South Korea and Germany. The hall should be positioned as part of the next generation of sports halls in Bulgaria that are modern and adequate to the market challenges.
Ruse is a cosmopolitan city at a crossroads. In its more than 20 centuries of history, a variety of ages have left an imprint on a variety of cultural strata.
Ruse is the biggest Bulgarian city on the Danube River and the most significant transport, logistics, business and cultural centre of North Bulgaria. Ruse welcomes its guests with an impressive architectural heritage inspired by the progressive European spirit of its citizens, who invited eminent European architects at the turn of the 20th century to build the architectural environment of the city.
The spirit of the city, however, always remains unchanging, everlasting and free like the big European river – a river that generates influences, connects, inspires life and promises a future… Today, dozens of heritage-listed buildings have the European Heritage label. Welcome to Ruse – The Free Spirit City!
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
Located in a convenient location beside the stadium, the arena is within walking distance of the city center.
A standard for the application of modern requirements and established practices in the design, construction, functionality, management, which will be a prerequisite for the hall to be among the best examples in Europe and the region. Arena Monbat has 5 100 seats, 156 premium seats, 6 VIP suites, 1 presidential suite, 2 training halls, 1 100 parking spaces, 1 press conference hall, 1 restaurant and 5 bars, 2 lounge bars, meeting rooms and offices.
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MATCH SCHEDULE 1ST ROUND 9-18 SEPTEMBER POOL A - FLORENCE / OPENING MATCH IN ROME 09.09 19:30 12.09 17:00 12.09 20:30 13.09 17:00 13.09 21:15
2ND ROUND 21-23 SEPTEMBER 3RD ROUND 29-30 SEPTEMBER POOL B - RUSE
POOL E - MILAN 1A, 2B, 3C, 4D
POOL I - TORINO 1ST E/F, 1ST G/H, BEST 2ND
ITALY vs JAPAN DOMINICANA vs SLOVENIA BELGIUM vs ARGENTINA DOMINICANA vs JAPAN ITALY vs BELGIUM
12.09 14:00 12.09 17:00 12.09 20:30 13.09 17:00 13.09 20:30
FRANCE vs CHINA NETHERLANDS vs CANADA BRAZIL vs EGYPT EGYPT vs CANADA BRAZIL vs FRANCE
TBD TBD
22.09 17:00 22.09 20:30
TBD TBD
23.09 17:00 23.09 20:30
TBD TBD
JAPAN vs SLOVENIA ARGENTINA vs DOMINICANA
14.09 17:00 14.09 20:30
15.09 17:00 15.09 21:15
BELGIUM vs SLOVENIA ITALY vs ARGENTINA
15.09 17:00 15.09 20:30
CANADA vs CHINA NETHERLANDS vs BRAZIL
POOL F - BOLOGNA 1B, 2A, 3A, 4C
16.09 17:00 16.09 20:30
CHINA vs EGYPT NETHERLANDS vs FRANCE
21.09 17:00 21.09 20:30
TBD TBD
22.09 17:00 22.09 20:30
TBD TBD
23.09 17:00 23.09 20:30
TBD TBD
17.09 17:00 17.09 20:30 18.09 17:00 18.09 21:15
JAPAN vs BELGIUM DOMINICANA vs ITALY BELGIUM vs DOMINICANA ARGENTINA vs SLOVENIA JAPAN vs ARGENTINA ITALY vs SLOVENIA
POOL C - BARI
17.09 17:00 17.09 20:30 18.09 17:00 18.09 20:30
EGYPT vs NETHERLANDS BRAZIL vs CANADA CHINA vs BRAZIL CANADA vs FRANCE
POOL D - VARNA 09.09 20:30
12.09 14:00 12.09 17:00 12.09 20:30
CAMEROON vs TUNISIA AUSTRALIA vs RUSSIA USA vs SERBIA
12.09 17:00 12.09 20:30
13.09 17:00 13.09 21:15
AUSTRALIA vs USA CAMEROON vs SERBIA
13.09 17:00 13.09 20:30
14.09 17:00 14.09 20:30
AUSTRALIA vs CAMEROON RUSSIA vs TUNISIA
14.09 17:00 14.09 20:30
15.09 17:00 15.09 21:15
SERBIA vs TUNISIA USA vs RUSSIA
15.09 17:00 15.09 20:30
16.09 17:00 16.09 21:15
CHINA vs NETHERLANDS FRANCE vs EGYPT
21.09 17:00 21.09 20:30
14.09 17:00 14.09 20:30
16.09 17:00 16.09 21:15
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
CAMEROON vs USA SERBIA vs AUSTRALIA
16.09 17:00 16.09 20:30
17.09 17:00 17.09 20:30
RUSSIA vs CAMEROON AUSTRALIA vs TUNISIA
17.09 17:00 17.09 20:30
18.09 17:00 18.09 21:15
USA vs TUNISIA SERBIA vs RUSSIA
18.09 17:00 18.09 20:30
BULGARIA vs FINLAND IRAN vs PUERTO RICO CUBA vs POLAND PUERTO RICO vs POLAND IRAN vs BULGARIA FINLAND vs CUBA BULGARIA vs PUERTO RICO CUBA vs IRAN POLAND vs FINLAND PUERTO RICO vs FINLAND CUBA vs BULGARIA CUBA vs PUERTO RICO IRAN vs POLAND FINLAND vs IRAN BULGARIA vs POLAND
26.09 17:00
TBD
27.09 17:00
TBD
28.09 17:00
TBD
POOL J - TORINO 1ST E/F, 1ST G/H, BEST 2ND
POOL G - SOFIA 1C, 2D, 3D, 4B
26.09 20:30
TBD
27.09 20:30
TBD
28.09 20:30
TBD
SEMI-FINALS / FINALS - TORINO 1I, 1J, 2I, 2J
21.09 17:00 21.09 20:30
TBD TBD
22.09 17:00 22.09 20:30
TBD TBD
23.09 17:00 23.09 20:30
TBD TBD
POOL H - VARNA 1D, 2C, 3B, 4A 21.09 17:00 21.09 20:30
TBD TBD
22.09 17:00 22.09 20:30
TBD TBD
23.09 17:00 23.09 20:30
TBD TBD
SEMI-FINALS 29.09 17:00 29.09 20:30
1I vs 2J 1J vs 2I
FINALS - 3RD - PLACE MATCH 30.09 17:00 L91 vs L92 30.09 20:30 W91 vs W92
MAXIM MIKHAYLOV Russian Men’s Volleyball player
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102 /2 7
ARGENTINA (POOL A)
AUSTRALIA (POOL C) NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
85
Beau GRAHAM
1994
202
86
88
Arshdeep DOSANJH
1996
205
85
190
85
Nathan ROBERTS
1986
199
90
188
81
Paul SANDERSON
1986
195
94
1989
195
94
Travis PASSIER
1989
208
100
1989
197
88
Harrison PEACOCK
1991
192
87
Agustín LOSER
1997
193
77
Trent O’DEA
1994
201
98
José Luis GONZALEZ
1984
206
97
Max STAPLES
1994
194
83
Sebastian SOLÉ
1991
200
94
Jordan RICHARDS
1993
193
80
Bruno LIMA
1996
198
87
Luke PERRY
1995
180
75
Ezequiel PALACIOS
1992
198
95
Nehemiah MOTE
1993
204
91
Pablo CRER
1989
202
85
Samuel WALKER
1995
208
90
Luciano De CECCO – C
1988
191
98
Simon HONE
1993
197
90
Alexis GONZÁLEZ
1981
184
85
Luke SMITH
1990
204
95
Tomas LOPEZ
1994
186
79
Paul CARROLL – C
1986
207
100
11
Martin RAMOS
1991
197
94
1993
200
104
Franco MASSIMINO
1988
177
66
Thomas HODGES
1994
197
95
Joaquin GALLEGO
1996
204
102
15
Lincoln Alexander WILLIAMS Nicholas BUTLER
1997
198
95
MEDALS
Santiago DANANI
1995
176
77
MEDALS
James WEIR
1995
204
95
Ignacio FERNANDEZ
1994
177
73
Elliott VILES
1997
193
73
Alejandro TORO
1989
190
83
Jordan COLOTTI
1996
188
82
Matias SANCHEZ
1996
173
67
Thomas HEPTINSTALL
1999
206
100
FIVB WORLD RANKING
7 LAST RESULT 2014
0
0
1
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Nicolas BRUNO
1989
187
Lisandro ZANOTTI
1990
195
Jan Martinez FRANCHI
1998
Maximiliano CAVANNA
1988
Cristian POGLAJEN Facundo CONTE
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
FIVB WORLD RANKING
16 LAST RESULT 2014
0
0
0
Under Head Coach Julio Velasco in 2016, the Argentina men’s national team showed its quality, finishing fifth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
They also won bronze at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, their highest placing in seven appearances at the Games.
Since the foundation of the Australian Volleyball Federation in 1963, the sport has continued to rise in popularity and volleyball is now one of the most played sports in the country.
At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the team came eighth, beating Spain in the process and taking a set from Italy, who were reigning world champions at the time.
Argentina’s first World Championship appearance came in 1960 when the team finished 11th in Rio, and this year marks the nation’s 12th appearance at the event.
Fourth remains Argentina’s highest finish in the FIVB World League, when they lost to hosts Poland in the 2011 bronze medal match. They have also ranked fifth on two occasions, in 2009 and 2010.
The ‘Volleyroos’ have become a highly regarded competitor in world volleyball, returning to the Olympic Games at London 2012.
In the first edition of the Volleyball Nations League, Australia finished the event with five wins to rank 13th overall.
Argentina’s highest-ranked finish in the competitiaon was in 1982 when, as hosts they won a bronze medal following a 3-0 win over Japan in the third-place playoff.
Argentina ranked 14th in the inaugural FIVB Volleyball Nations League this year, with stand out victories over Italy, Australia and Brazil, and the team will be hoping to build on these performances at the 2018 FIVB World Championship this September.
After an enthralling battle for Rio 2016 qualification, Australia just missed out after finishing fifth at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan.
This will be Australia’s seventh appearance in the World Championship, after finishing 15th last time around in 2014, when they reached the second round in Poland. It was Australia’s best placing in the history of the competition.
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BELGIUM (POOL A)
BRAZIL (POOL B) NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Bram VAN DEN DRIES
1989
208
Hendrik TUERLINCKX
1987
195
Sam DEROO – C
1992
Stijn D’HULST
1991
Igor Oskar GROBELNY Lowie STUER
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
99
Bruno Mossa REZENDE – C
1986
190
76
86
Isac SANTOS
1990
208
99
203
105
Eder CARBONERA
1983
205
107
187
75
1995
166
65
1993
194
85
Rogério Batista DE CARVALHO FILHO
1995
194
80
Lucas Eduardo LOH
1991
195
83
Francois LECAT
1993
200
96
Thiago Pontes VELOSO
1993
184
77
Kevin KLINKENBERG
1990
197
94
William ARJONA
1979
186
78
Pieter VERHEES
1989
205
112
Wallace DE SOUZA
1987
198
87
Simon VAN DE VOORDE
1989
208
100
Thales HOSS
1989
190
74
Jolan COX
1991
194
72
Otávio Henrique Rodrigues PINTO
1991
200
85
Gert Van WALLE
1987
197
91
Rodrigo LEAO
1996
197
85
Simon PEETERS
1997
192
80
Luiz Felipe Marques FONTELES
1984
198
100
Jelle RIBBENS
1992
185
79
Maurício SOUZA
1988
209
93
LAST RESULT 2014
Lienert COSEMANS
1993
203
93
LAST RESULT 2014
Douglas SOUZA
1995
199
75
17
Matthias VALKIERS
1990
194
92
1994
200
90
Tomas ROUSSEAUX
1994
199
90
Lucas SAATKAMP
1986
209
101
Ruben VAN HIRTUM
1990
196
86
2
Carlos Eduardo Barreto SILVA Evandro M. GUERRA
1981
207
106
MEDALS
Tim VERSTRAETE
1999
174
72
MEDALS
Ricardo Lucarelli SOUZA
1992
196
87
Arno VAN DE VELDE
1995
210
93
Renan BUIATTI
1990
217
105
Thomas PARDON
1998
203
88
Alan SOUZA
1994
202
98
Pieter COOLMAN
1989
200
90
Maique Reis NASCIMENTO
1997
182
76
Victor Aleksander Almeida CARDOSO
1999
199
86
FIVB WORLD RANKING
15
0
0
0
FIVB WORLD RANKING
1
3
2
3
Belgium boast a long and proud history of participation in international volleyball, having been present at the first ever FIVB World Championship in 1949, when they ranked ninth.
Belgium’s international volleyball history dates back to the 1948 European Championship when the team finished fifth.
The world number ones began a new cycle in their illustrious history on home soil, after claiming gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Renan dal Zotto has since taken over as head coach following the retirement of Bernardo ‘Bernardinho’ Rezende, but still the success continues.
They made their FIVB World League debut in 2014 and were promoted to Group 1 in 2016, where they finished ninth, their highest ranking in the competition’s history.
Belgium currently sit 15th in the FIVB World Ranking and in 2013 won the European League title for the first time in impressive fashion, sweeping the Czech Republic in the semi-final before doing the same to Croatia in the gold medal match.
During Bernardinho’s 15year tenure as coach, Brazil have at times appeared unstoppable. He led the team to the 2001 World League title in his first outing and Brazil were unrivalled champions from 2003 to 2007.
Brazil will compete in the World Championship for the 17th time this year. They missed the first two editions 1949 and 1952, but have been present at every edition since, claiming the world title three times consecutively (2002, 2006, 2010) and finishing runners up twice (1982, 2014).
The ‘Red Dragons’ competed consistently in the World Championship until 1978, before a 36year hiatus, marking their return to the competition in 2014.
Belgium fans will be hoping for a return to this scintillating form as they look to cause an upset in Turin.
The Brazilians won backto-back World League titles again in 2009 and 2010, three World Championships
and two FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup events, in 2003 and 2007. Under Dal Zotto, Brazil’s medal-winning tradition has continued without pause, taking silver in the 2017 FIVB World League and winning gold medals at both the South American Games and the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup.
In the last edition of the World Championship, Brazil lost out in the final to hosts Poland, going down in four sets. Brazil finished fourth in the inaugural Volleyball Nations League this year, after losing to the USA in straight sets in the bronze medal match in Lille.
102 /3 1
BULGARIA (POOL D)
CAMEROON (POOL C)
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
102
Nelson Ayong DJAM
1990
191
90
92
Ahmed Awal MBUTNGAM
1990
191
85
198
84
Herman Marie ENGALA
1985
208
104
196
84
Bana HASSANA
1995
202
85
1990
205
97
Jean Patrice Ndaki MBOULET
1979
201
108
1994
197
79
Sem DOLEGOMBAI
1990
200
95
Nikolay UCHIKOV
196
207
110
Samuel Solle SOLLE
1987
191
89
Todor SKRIMOV
1990
191
87
Junior Charles ENGOHE
1984
194
85
Georgi SEGANOV
1993
198
83
Jean Pierre NDONGO
1986
196
92
Valentin BRATOEV
1987
203
92
Didier Sali HILE
1991
192
80
Velizar CHERNOKOZHEV
1995
203
108
Yannick BIKOI-BI-NKOT
1984
177
68
Viktor YOSIFOV – C
1985
204
100
Arsene Ivan Ebouma MOTO
1990
180
70
Teodor SALPAROV
1982
187
77
Cyrille Pierre Ongolo MAYAM
1991
196
88
Teodor TODOROV
1989
208
108
Nathan WOUNEMBAINA C
1984
198
83
Ivan STANEV
1985
190
86
Yvan Arthur Kody BITJAA
1991
213
92
13
Vladislav IVANOV
1987
188
80
1980
183
81
Nikolay PENCHEV
1992
197
87
David Patrick FEUGHOUO
1989
206
95
Nikolay NIKOLOV
1986
206
97
21
Alain Fossi KAMTO Kevin Audran Noumbissi MOYO
1993
192
95
MEDALS
Zlatan YORDANOV
1991
200
94
MEDALS
Joseph Herve Kofane BOYOMO
1988
206
95
Aleks GROZDANOV
1998
206
86
1992
205
90
Petar KARAKASHEV
1991
184
74
Christian Arthur Voukeng MBATIVOU
Krasimir GEORGIEV
1995
203
83
Fritz Romuald Keedi ABOH
1997
191
85
Walid Karim FOKOU
2000
196
80
FIVB WORLD RANKING
14 LAST RESULT 2014
0
1
4
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Danail MILUSHEV
1984
200
Miroslav GRADINAROV
1985
203
Dobromir DIMITROV
1991
Dimitar MARINKOV
1993
Svetoslav GOTSEV Rozalin PENCHEV
FIVB WORLD RANKING
30 LAST RESULT 2014
0
0
0
Bulgaria has been competing in the FIVB World Championship since the inaugural edition in 1949, where they claimed the first bronze medal.
They repeated this feat in the following World Championship four years later, and then repeated the feat twice more, in 1986 and 2006.
Cameroon will return to the 2018 FIVB World Championship for their third consecutive appearance.
Their best World Championship performance to date came in 1970, when they hosted the event and finished runners-up to East Germany.
In addition to these successes, Bulgaria came third at the 2007 FIVB World Cup, adding to four bronze and one silver European Championship medals. In the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, Bulgaria ranked 11th with a 6-9 record in pool play.
Cameroon also took part in the 1989 FIVB World Cup, ranking eighth.
This year marks the country’s 18th appearance in the competition. Their sole absence was in 1960. Only Russia (including the USSR), the only country
never to have missed a World Championship, has more appearances. Bulgaria competed in the first Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, where they finished fifth. They claimed the silver medal at Moscow 1980 and came joint-fifth again at Beijing 2008, before securing a fourthplace finish at London 2012.
Historically, Bulgaria have a strong volleyball pedigree
and have been regular participants in the World League since 1994, when they finished fourth - a position they have since held four more times. In 2018, Bulgaria will hope to go at least one better in 2018 and make the podium, for the first time in the nation’s history.
At continental level, Cameroon have twice won the African Championship, in 1989 and 2001, and have also struck gold three times at the All-Africa Games, in 1987, 1999 and 2011.
More recently, Cameroon picked up bronze at the 2017 African Championship, after beating Algeria in four sets in the third-place playoff in Cairo. Can they repeat this feat on the world stage in Turin?
The country made its debut in 1990 finishing 15th, but their best placing to date was 13th in 2010.
10 /3 3
CANADA (POOL B)
FIVB WORLD RANKING
6 LAST RESULT 2014
7 MEDALS
0
0
0
CHINA (POOL B)
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
81
Chuan JIANG
1994
205
91
95
Tianyi MAO
1993
200
90
193
87
Chen ZHANG
1985
200
85
200
91
Binglong ZHANG
1994
197
99
1991
210
108
Runming LI
1990
198
90
1988
200
102
Jingyin ZHANG
1999
207
88
Stephen Timothy MAAR
1994
201
103
Jingyi WANG
1998
202
87
Jay BLANKENAU
1989
194
94
Yaochen YU
1995
195
78
Jason DEROCCO
1989
198
94
Daoshuai JI – C
1992
194
82
Sharone VERNON-EVANS
1998
202
94
Haixiang DU
1995
194
87
Daniel Cornelius Jansen VANDOORN
1990
207
98
Longhai CHEN
1991
200
85
Gavin SCHMITT
1986
208
106
Chuanhang TANG
1995
202
92
Ryley Brendan BARNES
1993
200
92
Jiahua TONG
1992
180
76
Ryan Joseph SCLATER
1994
200
92
Libin LIU
1995
197
90
Graham VIGRASS
1989
205
97
Meng LIU
1995
195
80
Blair Cameron BANN
1988
184
84
1996
200
91
Arthur SZWARC
1995
207
97
Shuhan RAO
1996
205
99
Brett James WALSH
1994
195
84
15
Dangyi YUAN Ruantong MIAO
1995
205
88
Blake SCHEERHOORN
1995
202
90
MEDALS
Shikun PENG
2000
208
90
Danny DEMYANENKO
1994
194
101
Zuyuan ZHANG
1997
207
87
Byron KETURAKIS
1996
200
88
Jiajie CHEN
1995
170
70
Eric LOEPPKY
1998
197
89
Xiaoteng MA
1991
180
85
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Tyler SANDERS
1991
191
John Gordon PERRIN – C
1989
201
Steven MARSHALL
1989
Nicholas HOAG
1992
Lucas Van BERKEL Justin DUFF
FIVB WORLD RANKING
20 LAST RESULT 2014
0
0
0
Canada stunned the world in 2017 by making the Final Six of the FIVB World League, eliminating Russia in pool play.
After losing to eventual champions France in the semi-finals, Canada knocked out archrivals USA 3-1 to win the bronze medal, the national team’s best achievement to date in international volleyball.
China will be making its 14th FIVB World Championship appearance at the 2018 edition – the seventh in a row, dating back to 1994.
They made their debut in the competition in 1956, and their best ranking to date has been seventh place, which they achieved twice (1978, 1982).
Their best World League finish prior to last year’s bronze was fifth place, and the team followed that up by finishing seventh in this year’s inaugural Volleyball Nations League, posting an 8-7 record.
Canada hosted the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, where they beat Puerto Rico to win the bronze medal. They also competed at the 2015 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup, where they finished seventh.
They ranked 15th in the last edition in Poland in 2014.
China’s best World League finish was in 1996, when they made the Final Six in Rotterdam. In the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, China recorded
Canada’s other notable achievements include a fourth-place finish at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, and two bronze medals at the Pan American Games in 1979 and 1999. The team has participated in four Olympic Games, most recently finishing in fifth place finish at Rio 2016.
Canada will make their 11th appearance at the FIVB World Championship this year, having been an ever-present since 1990.
Following their debut in 1974, Canada’s best World Championship finish to date came in 2014 when they finished in seventh place. Fans will be hoping that the team can build upon their experience from four years ago and make a charge towards the podium this time around.
China’s men’s team have competed twice in the Olympic Games, memorably finishing fifth at their home Games in Beijing.
On a continental level, China have won three gold medals at the Asian Games, in 1986, 1990 and 1998, and were crowned Asian champions in 1979, 1997 and 1999.
an incredible week two win over eventual silver-medallists France, highlighting the team’s dangerous ability to cause an upset.
102 /3 5
CUBA (POOL D)
DOMINICANA (POOL A) NAME
FIVB WORLD RANKING
16 LAST RESULT 2014
11 MEDALS
0
2
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
José Israel Masso ALVAREZ
02/12/97
199
Osniel Lazaro Melgarejo HERNANDEZ
18/12/97
195
Marlon Yang HERRERA
23/05/01
Javier Ernesto JIMENEZ SCULL
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
79
Henry Omar Tapia SANTANA
1992
198
88
83
Bayron Valdez PEÑA
1999
191
72
202
75
Elvis Dalsires Contrera De Los SANTOS – C
1979
188
78
16/11/89
198
89
Wilfrido HERNANDEZ
1990
195
89
Javier Octavio Concepcion ROJAS
27/12/97
200
84
Enger Miguel Mieses FELIZ
1995
171
65
Jose Antonio Sandoval ROJAS
09/05/94
205
98
Pedro Luis GARCIA
1990
190
90
Yonder Roman Garcia ALVAREZ
26/02/93
183
78
Mario Emilio Frias TAVARES
1994
198
75
Richard Tuero FORTUN
07/03/87
183
73
Henry Antonio Lopez CAPELLAN
1994
185
71
Livan Osoria RODRIGUEZ – C
05/02/94
201
96
186
80
21/02/97
197
86
Braymer Norbery Tolentino LORENZO
1996
Miguel David Gutierrez SUAREZ Livan Taboada DIAZ
04/10/98
191
75
FIVB WORLD RANKING
Francisco Alberto Abreu LOPEZ
1982
184
82
Jesus Herrera JAIME
04/04/95
194
85
1981
210
104
Jose Carlos Romero GONZALEZ
05/01/99
198
85
Francisco Argelis Arredondo SEVERINO
1996
187
69
Adrian Eduardo Goide ARREDONDO
26/06/98
191
80
38
Jose Miguel Caceres GOMEZ
Jonathan Mercedes CRUZ
1989
187
85
Yohan Armando Leon NAPOLES
24/01/95
200
98
1995
191
72
Roamy Raul Alonso ARCE
24/07/97
201
93
Richi Paulino PAULINO
1996
206
87
Miguel Angel Lopez CASTRO
25/03/97
189
75
22
Felix Miguel Romero PEREZ Adalberto Gonzalez PEREZ
1999
185
63
25/07/97
185
MEDALS
Jairo Junior Perez BELLO
1999
192
72
Rafael Antonio BURGOS-GUNTIN
1995
207
102
Hector Alexis Cruz CEPIN
1997
187
83
Dawilin Ramill Mendez JOSE
1902
195
76
Juan José De Jesus HERNANDEZ
1994
191
79
Jhoan Jesus Capellan RODRIGUEZ
2001
175
54
Lionnis Salazar RUBIERA
2
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
Alfredo Zequeira CAIRO
28/06/96
195
78
Lazaro Yoelvis Brunet LLANES
18/02/00
194
78
Carlos Daniel Baseiro AIDA
08/09/00
202
90
Raico Antonio Altunaga SAROZA
02/09/99
198
76
LAST RESULT 1974
0
0
0
The Cuban men’s team may have been overshadowed by their female counterparts, but the men have had a fair share of glory with four World Championship medals in their 14
appearances to date in the competition. The Caribbean team have picked up bronze in 1978 and 1998, as well as silver in 1990 and 2010.
The Dominican Republic are making their second FIVB World Championships appearance this year, returning to the competition after 44 years.
In their sole previous performance they ranked 22nd in 1974.
Cuba’s men were also the first to earn their country an Olympic medal in volleyball - a bronze at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games when they beat Japan 3-0 for third place.
At continental level Cuba have also won the NORCECA Championship 15 times, in addition to five gold medals at the PanAmerican Games.
The Dominican Republic have been consistently overwhelmed by the volleyball powerhouses of their region and have never won a title in any world or major continental event.
This complements their three silver medals, once at the 2006 Pan-American Cup and twice at the Central American & Caribbean Games in 1962 and 1986.
They won the 1989 FIVB World Cup and 2001 FIVB Grand Champions Cup and a single FIVB World League title in 1998.
This year, at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia, Cuba finished fourth after losing in five sets to Mexico in the bronze medal match.
Their best success was their gold medal at the 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games in Mexico, after beating Puerto Rico 3-2 in the final.
This year, at the Central American & Caribbean Games in Colombia, the Dominican Republic ranked sixth.
10 /3 7
EGYPT (POOL B)
FINLAND (POOL D)
FIVB WORLD RANKING
13 LAST RESULT 2014
21 MEDALS
0
0
0
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Abdallah Abdalsalam Abdallah BEKHIT
1983
202
85
Abd Elhalim Mohamed ABOU
1989
210
88
Ahmed ABDELHAY – C
1984
197
87
Abdelrahman SEOUDY
1997
207
100
Sherif ALY
1994
185
77
Hisham EWAIS
1995
196
75
Mohamed THAKIL
1986
184
71
Rashad ATIA
1986
201
91
Mohamed MASOUD
1994
211
105
Ahmed MOHAMED
1989
193
83
Hossam ABDALLA
1988
203
97
FIVB WORLD RANKING
Mohamed BADAWY
1986
197
97
Omar HASSAN
1991
191
104
Ahmed ABDELAAL
1989
188
84
18
Ahmed OMAR
1995
196
93
Reda HAIKAL
1990
198
85
Ahmed SHAFIK
1994
190
89
Mostafa Mohamed Ibrahim ABDELRAHMAN
1994
197
94
LAST RESULT 2010
9 MEDALS
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Akseli LANKINEN
1997
194
77
Eemi TERVAPORTTI – C
1989
193
80
Mikko ESKO
1978
198
89
Lauri KERMINEN
1993
185
80
Antti SILTALA
1984
193
90
Antti RONKAINEN
1996
189
80
Niko SUIHKONEN
1999
190
86
Elviss KRASTINS
1994
192
85
Tommi SIIRILÄ
1993
203
102
Urpo SIVULA
1988
195
100
Sauli SINKKONEN
1989
201
94
Jan HELENIUS
1996
183
74
Antti ROPPONEN
1995
190
87
Markus KAURTO
1993
196
85
Henrik PORKKA
1998
202
82
Samuli KAISLASALO
1995
203
94
Eetu PENNANEN
1992
183
78
Miki JAUHIAINEN
1997
205
85
Niklas BREILIN
1999
178
69
1998
202
90
Abdelrahman ABOUELELLA
1996
209
109
JoonaS JOKELA
Shehabeldeen MOHAMED
1995
204
79
Fedor IVANOV
1900
193
78
Sakari Antti MÄKINEN
1995
188
78
Ahmed Saber MOHAMED
1995
198
88
Mohamed NOURELDIN
1995
185
76
0
0
0
This year Egypt will make its sixth straight appearance at the FIVB World Championship.
They finished the 2014 FIVB World Championship in Poland in 21st, but just four years earlier managed their highest competition finish of seventh.
In 2014, Finland ended a 32-year absence from the FIVB World Championship and returned in emphatic fashion.
Thousands of fans travelled to Poland to cheer on their team as they enjoyed a spirited run to the second round, before eventually finishing ninth.
Egypt qualified for its fifth Olympic Games at Rio 2016, ranking ninth which is their best finish in the history of the competition.
At number 13 in the FIVB World Ranking, Egypt are the highest-placed African country heading into the 2018 World Championship and will look to make their mark in Turin.
This bettered their previous best of 11th, back in 1952. This year marks Finland’s eighth appearance in the competition.
In 2017, Finland finished 12th in the European Championship, on a par with their 2015 ranking and down four spots from their previous 2013 and 2011 performances.
A run of six straight African Championship gold medals which began in 2005 was interrupted in 2017 when Egypt lost to Tunisia in straight sets in the final in Cairo.
They have eight titles overall in the continental competition, in addition to five gold medals at the All-Africa Games. Last time around at the All-Africa Games, Egypt beat Rwanda 3-2 in the third-place playoff to claim bronze in Brazzaville 2015.
After a one-off appearance in 1993, Finland re-joined the FIVB World League in 2006 and was an ever-present part of the competition. Their best finish was seventh place back in 2007.
Their best ever continental performance was in 2007, when they lost in the bronze medal match, going down 3-1 to Serbia. Finnish fans will be hoping that their team will rise to the occasion and, like in 2014, provide an upset or two in Turin.
10 /3 9
FRANCE (POOL B)
IRAN (POOL D)
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
92
Farhad SALAFZOON
1992
200
81
1993
196
78
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Jonas AGUENIER
1992
202
Jenia GREBENNIKOV
1990
188
85
Milad Ebadipour GHARA H.
Luka BASIC
1995
201
77
Saman FAEZI
1991
204
87
1985
189
81
Jean PATRY
1996
207
94
Mir Saeid MAROUFLAKRANI – C
Raphaël CORRE
1989
195
86
Farhad GHAEMI
1989
197
73
Seyed Mohammad Mousavi ERAGHI
1987
203
86
Meisam SALEHI
1998
198
89
Mostafa HEYDARI
1991
175
68
Masoud GHOLAMI
1990
204
93
Amir GHAFOUR
1991
202
90
Saber KAZEMI
1998
205
87
Mojtaba MIRZAJANPOUR M.
1991
205
88
Javad KARIMISOUCHELMAEI
1998
204
104
Mohammadjavad MANAVINEZHAD
1995
198
94
Mohammad RAZI POUR
1993
201
91
Ali SHAFIEI
1991
190
80
Mohammad Taher VADI
1989
194
72
Benjamin TONIUTTI C
1989
183
73
Kevin TILLIE
1990
200
85
Julien LYNEEL
1990
192
87
Earvin NGAPETH
1991
194
101
Kevin LE ROUX
1989
209
95
Antoine BRIZARD
1994
196
96
Stephen BOYER
1996
196
77
Nicolas LE GOFF
1992
206
105
Jérémie MOUIEL
1995
176
52
Daryl BULTOR
1995
197
94
LAST RESULT 2014
4
Trevor CLEVENOT
1994
199
89
Thibault ROSSARD
1993
194
85
Yacine LOUATI
1992
198
92
6
MEDALS
Nicolas ROSSARD
1990
183
64
MEDALS
Mahdi MARANDI
1986
172
69
Barthélémy CHINENYEZE
1998
201
81
Porya YALI
1999
209
81
Quentin JOUFFROY
1993
202
100
Morteza SHARIFI
1999
193
83
Kévin Kaba
1994
203
98
Mohammadreza HAZRATPOURTALATAPPEH
1999
187
87
Amir Hossein TOUKHTEH
2001
203
79
FIVB WORLD RANKING
9 LAST RESULT 2010
0
0
1
FIVB WORLD RANKING
8
0
0
0
France have enjoyed considerable success in recent years. After an incredible season in 2015, where France became FIVB Volleyball World League and European
champions, the team added another World League medal in 2016, finishing third with a 3-0 sweep of Italy in the bronze medal match.
The Iranian men’s team continues to rise after impressive performances in recent years. This includes their first-ever appearance in the World League finals in
2014, which ended in a fourth-place finish after a loss to Italy in the bronze medal match, as well as their Olympic debut at the Rio 2016 Games, where they finished fifth.
France’s success in 2015 and 2016 continued into 2017, where they stunned hosts Brazil 3-2 in the final of the World League to claim a second gold in three years.
Can they continue their golden run in 2018 and claim their first ever World Championship title?
At this year’s inaugural FIVB Volleyball Nations League Iran ranked 10th, following a 7-8 record in pool play.
They have also enjoyed recent continental success, defeating Japan 3-1 in 2014 to win gold at the Asian Games in Incheon.
At this year’s inaugural FIVB Volleyball Nations League France made a splendid run through pool play and on to the finals,
before falling to Russia in the grand final in Lille. Four years ago, at the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Championship, France topped a second-round pool ahead of hosts Poland and progressed all the way to the third-place playoff, before losing in straight sets to Germany.
Iran have featured in the FIVB Volleyball World Championship for the past three years, finishing sixth at the 2014 edition in Poland, where a strong Russian side defeated them in the final round.
At the Asian Championships Iran have struck gold twice. The first of these was at home in Tehran in 2011, with a rousing 3-1 victory over China in the final. Two years later in Dubai, Iran retained its titles with a straight sets win against Korea.
10 /4 1
ITALY (POOL A)
JAPAN (POOL A) NAME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
88
Issei OTAKE
1995
201
98
97
Hideomi FUKATSU
1990
180
70
196
95
Naonobu FUJII
1992
183
78
196
93
Shunsuke CHIJIKI
1989
194
89
1985
200
85
Tatsuya FUKUZAWA
1986
189
88
1996
198
92
Akihiro YAMAUCHI
1993
204
80
Salvatore ROSSINI
1986
185
82
Masahiro YANAGIDA – C
1992
186
79
Daniele MAZZONE
1992
208
88
Satoshi TSUIKI
1992
174
74
Ivan ZAYTSEV – C
1988
204
100
Taichiro KOGA
1989
170
70
Filippo LANZA
1991
198
98
Yuji NISHIDA
2000
186
80
Fabio BALASO
1995
178
73
Takuya TAKAMATSU
1988
186
86
Enrico CESTER
1988
202
93
Naoya TAKANO
1993
190
78
Massimo COLACI
1985
180
75
Yuki ISHIKAWA
1995
191
84
Roberto RUSSO
1997
205
80
Haku RI
1990
193
82
Gabriele MARUOTTI
1988
195
92
Kentaro TAKAHASHI
1995
201
103
13
Oleg ANTONOV
1988
198
88
1991
207
113
Simone ANZANI
1992
204
100
Masahiro SEKITA
1993
175
72
Giulio SABBI
1989
201
92
13
Yamato FUSHIMI Hiroaki ASANO
1990
178
67
MEDALS
Riccardo SBERTOLI
1998
188
85
MEDALS
Ryuta HOMMA
1991
178
71
Gabriele NELLI
1993
210
100
Ryota DENDA
1991
191
88
Alberto POLO
1995
199
76
Dai TEZUKA
1988
191
90
Giacomo RAFFAELLI
1995
198
95
Taishi ONODERA
1996
201
98
FIVB WORLD RANKING
4 LAST RESULT 2014
3
1
0
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Davide CANDELLARO
1989
200
Luigi RANDAZZO
19/94
198
Simone PARODI
1986
Michele BARANOWICZ
1989
Osmany JUANTORENA Simone GIANNELLI
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
FIVB WORLD RANKING
12 LAST RESULT 2010
0
0
2
2016 was a memorable year for the Italian men’s team, who won silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, adding to their previous second-place finishes at the Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 Games.
Despite winning a bronze medal at the inaugural 1948 European Championship, it wasn’t until the early 1970s that Italy became a major force in the sport.
Two years before they host the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Japan are making their 15th appearance in the history of the FIVB World Championship.
This marks their return to the competition after failing to qualify in 2014 - the first edition they had missed in 54 years.
They won bronze at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, before a lengthy period of domination under coach Julio Velasco.
Italy remain one of the most successful teams since the World Championship began, having won the title three times consecutively, in 1990, 1994 and 1998. The home crowd will be hoping that Italy can replicate this success in Italy.
Last time Japan competed in the World Championship was in 2010, when they ranked 13th. Their biggest success in the competition remains their two bronze medals from 1970 and 1974.
Japan have been crowned Asian champions nine times (including the last two editions in 2015 and 2017) and have won a total of eight gold medals at the Asian Games.
From 1989 to 2005, Italy won three World Championship titles, one World Cup, six European Championship titles, eight World Leagues and three Olympic medals.
Qualification for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Finals went down to the wire when Italy narrowly missed out on the final day, ranking 8th with an 8-7 record.
Elsewhere, Japan won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, followed by silver at Mexico 1968 and a gold at Munich 1972.
Can they translate this continental success onto the world stage in 2018?
10 /4 3
NETHERLANDS (POOL B)
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
92
Piotr NOWAKOWSKI
1987
205
90
81
Karol KLOS
1989
201
87
200
89
Dawid KONARSKI
1989
198
93
204
97
Marcin KOMENDA
1996
198
90
1989
181
86
Lukasz KACZMAREK
1994
204
99
1988
195
90
Bartosz KUREK
1988
205
87
Gijs JORNA
1989
196
85
Artur SZALPUK
1995
201
93
Fabian PLAK
1997
198
92
Damian SCHULZ
1990
208
95
Ewoud GOMMANS
1990
202
93
Lukasz WISNIEWSKI
1989
198
96
Jeroen RAUWERDINK
1985
200
92
Damian WOJTASZEK
1988
180
76
Tim SMIT
1989
201
92
Fabian DRZYZGA
1990
196
90
Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ
1992
201
91
Grzegorz LOMACZ
1987
187
80
Thomas KOELEWIJN
1988
206
100
Michal KUBIAK – C
1988
191
80
Wouter TER MAAT
1991
200
93
Aleksander SLIWKA
1995
196
88
LAST RESULT 2014
Michael PARKINSON
1991
203
102
Jakub KOCHANOWSKI
1997
199
89
9
Robbert ANDRINGA
1990
192
85
1988
182
73
Just DRONKERS
1993
187
82
Pawel ZATORSKI
1990
184
73
Stijn HELD
1994
196
82
CHAMPION
Michal ZUREK Bartosz KWOLEK
1997
192
91
Stijn VAN SCHIE
1995
200
89
MEDALS
Marcin JANUSZ
1994
195
85
Freek DE WEIJER
1995
196
82
Mateusz BIENIEK
1994
210
98
Sjoerd HOOGENDOORN
1991
198
85
Tomasz FORNAL
1997
198
92
Luuc VAN DER ENT
1998
208
105
Bartosz BEDNORZ
1994
201
84
FIVB WORLD RANKING
25 MEDALS
0
POLAND (POOL D)
1
0
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Daan Van HAARLEM
1989
198
Wessel KEEMINK
1993
197
Maarten VAN GARDEREN
1990
Thijs TER HORST
1991
Dirk SPARIDANS Jasper DIEFENBACH – C
FIVB WORLD RANKING
3 LAST RESULT 2014
2
1
0
The Netherlands return to the FIVB World Championship this year after a 16-year hiatus.
Last time they qualified for the competition was in 2002, when they ranked ninth.
Poland have played a prominent role in the development of the sport since the inaugural FIVB Men’s World Championship in 1949.
Thirty years after winning their first World Championship gold in 1974, Poland captured their second when they hosted the 2014 World Championship, beating Brazil 3-1 in the final in Katowice.
This was seven places below their all-time high of second in 1994, when they lost 3-1 in the final to Italy in Piraeus, Greece.
They were runnersup at the 1994 World Championship and won two silver and two bronze medals in successive European Championships from 1989, before taking gold on home soil in Eindhoven in 1997.
Poland dominated the international scene in the mid-1970s and have participated in the Olympic Games nine times, winning gold at the Montreal 1976 Games. At the Rio 2016 Games, Poland finished fifth.
At a continental level, Poland have won five silver medals and one bronze but have only once reached gold, after beating France 3-1 in the 2009 final.
The 1990s proved to be a decade of success for the Dutch. The Netherlands finished second in the inaugural World League in 1990 and repeated the feat the following year.
In 1992 they took silver at the Olympic Games in Barcelona and four years later they won gold at Atlanta 1996, as well as winning the World League title.
More recently, the Netherlands finished 16th in the last edition of the FIVB World League in 2017, followed by a 14th place later in the same year in the European Championship.
In the 2011 FIVB World League, Poland finished with a bronze medal at home in Gdansk, and they followed it up with gold in Sofia. Poland was one of the core teams in the inaugural 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. A stellar campaign in the pool rounds saw the team progress through to the Final Six in Lille.
As reigning World Champions, Poland will be looking to replicate their 2014 success with another strong showing in Turin.
10 /4 5
PUERTO RICO (POOL D)
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
82
Pavel KRUGLOV
1985
205
98
95
Ilia VLASOV
1995
212
98
188
67
Dmitry KOVALEV
1991
198
82
175
58
Artem VOLVICH
1990
208
96
1993
198
92
Sergey GRANKIN C
1985
195
96
1982
190
86
Anton KARPUKHOV
1988
197
88
Arturo IGLESIAS
1995
197
88
Dmitry VOLKOV
1995
201
88
Eddie RIVERA
1992
181
69
Alexey RODICHEV
1988
196
80
Carlos J. Rondon RIVERA
1996
194
72
Yury BEREZHKO
1984
196
93
Ezequiel Cruz LOZADA
1986
191
85
Alexander SOKOLOV
1982
193
97
Maurice TORRES
1991
201
100
Kirill URSOV
1995
194
86
Kevin LOPEZ
1995
198
81
Alexander BUTKO
1986
198
97
Sequiel SÁNCHEZ
1990
191
89
Dmitriy MUSERSKIY
1988
218
104
Juan VAZQUEZ
1991
188
82
Aleksei KABESHOV
1991
190
83
Jonathan RODRIGUEZ
1997
193
82
LAST RESULT 2014
Victor POLETAEV
1995
197
86
21
Ramon BURGOS
1993
198
91
1982
183
79
Jessie COLON
1984
192
74
Maxim MIKHAYLOV
1988
202
103
Pedro ROSARIO
1994
189
78
5
Alexey VERBOV Egor KLIUKA
1995
208
93
MEDALS
Victor COSME
1989
174
70
MEDALS
Igor PHILIPPOV
1991
205
107
Pedrito SIERRA
1989
196
89
Ilyas KURKAEV
1994
207
95
Pedro MOLINA
1999
192
81
Konstantin BAKUN
1985
204
96
Arnel Cabrera RIVERA
1994
189
79
Igor KOBZAR
1991
198
86
FIVB WORLD RANKING
29 LAST RESULT 2010
0
RUSSIA (POOL C)
0
0
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Steven MORALES
1992
195
Edgardo GOAS
1989
197
Pablo GUZMAN
1987
Dennis DEL VALLE
1989
Pedro NIEVES Angel PEREZ – C
FIVB WORLD RANKING
4
6
3
3
Puerto Rico will compete this year in the FIVB World Championship for the fifth time.
After making their debut in 1974, Puerto Rico returned to the competition only in 2006, when they finished an all-time high of 12th.
Russia has consistently been a major volleyball force since the very beginning of international competition.
The former Soviet Union joined the FIVB in 1948, a year after the foundation of the international governing body, and in 1949 competed in the first FIVB World Championship.
Puerto Rico have taken part four times in the FIVB World League (their best finish 11th in their debut in 2011) and once in the FIVB World Cup (6th in 2007).
They won bronze at the 2015 North, Central America and Caribbean (NORCECA) Championship after beating hosts Mexico 3-1 for third place, but did not compete in the latest edition of the competition in 2017.
In 2018, Russia is competing in the World Championships for the 19th time. It is the only country to have taken part in every single edition of the competition since its introduction in 1949.
They failed to defend their title at Rio 2016, finishing in fourth place after the USA came back from two sets down to win 3-2 in the bronze medal match.
Regionally, Puerto Rico have been most successfull in the Central American & Caribbean Games, where they have four gold medals, in 2002, 2006, 2010 and most recently in 2018 after beating Colombia 3-0 in the final.
Puerto Rico’s best finish at the Pan-American Games is fourth, after losing 3-1 to Canada in the latest edition in 2015.
In that time, Russia has collected six World Championship titles,
six World Cups and 14 European Championship golds. Russia was successful in the FIVB World Cup in 2011 and secured Olympic gold for the fourth time at London 2012 – their first since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Russia are currently the reigning European champions, after beating Germany 3-2 in the final of the 2017 edition in Krakow. It was their 14th gold (in
addition to three silver and five bronze medals) in 30 editions of the competition. They have already enjoyed a golden 2018, making history as the inaugural winners of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League, and will be looking to make it an unforgettable year with victory in Italy.
10 /4 7
SERBIA (POOL C)
SLOVENIA (POOL A)
FIVB WORLD RANKING
11 LAST RESULT 2010
9 MEDALS
0
1
1
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
90
Toncek STERN
1995
198
95
90
Alen PAJENK
1986
203
92
202
99
Alen Djordjevic KAMENIK
1985
195
93
202
86
Jan KOZAMERNIK
1995
204
103
1992
196
83
Alen ŠKET
1988
205
92
1987
197
94
Mitja GASPARINI
1984
202
93
Petar KRSMANOVIC
1990
205
98
Jure OKROGLIC
1997
190
80
Marko IVOVIC
1990
194
89
Uroš PAVLOVIC
1992
200
93
Nikola JOVOVIC
1992
197
75
Dejan VINCIC
1986
200
93
Miran KUJUNDŽIĆ
1997
196
86
Saso STALEKAR
1996
214
98
Maksim BUCULJEVIC
1991
192
83
Jernej DETELA
1992
192
84
Dusan PETKOVIC
1992
202
86
Jan KLOBUCAR
1992
196
92
Stevan SIMIC
1996
201
85
Jani KOVACIC
1992
186
83
Aleksandar ATANASIJEVIC
1991
200
92
Urban TOMAN
1997
185
82
David MEHIC
1997
196
83
Matic VIDECNIK
1993
203
98
Drazen LUBURIC
1993
202
90
1989
192
89
Neven MAJSTOROVIC
1989
193
90
Tine URNAUT – C
1988
200
88
Marko PODRASCANIN
1987
203
100
It’s first participation at the FIVB WCH
Gregor ROPRET Klemen CEBULJ
1992
202
96
Nikola ROSIC
1984
192
85
MEDALS
Rok MOŽIČ
1902
193
78
Srecko LISINAC
1992
205
90
Uroš PLANINŠIČ
1998
186
84
Ivan KOSTIC
1988
192
90
Dane MIJATOVIĆ
1992
202
91
Andrija VILIMANOVIC
1995
195
89
Žiga ŠTERN
1994
193
88
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Aleksandar OKOLIC
1993
205
Uros KOVACEVIC
1993
197
Milan KATIC
1993
Nemanja PETRIC – C
1987
Lazar CIROVIC Goran SKUNDRIC
FIVB WORLD RANKING
23 LAST RESULT 2014
0
0
0
Serbia (including Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro) will be competing in the FIVB World Championship for the 10th time.
The country’s best success to date came in 1998 in Tokyo, when they won a silver medal after losing out in the final to Italy.
Slovenia have been a revelation over the last few years, claiming the silver medal at the 2015 European Championship after
beating reigning world champions Poland 3-2 in the quarterfinals and Italy 3-1 in the semi-finals.
They also picked up a bronze medal in 2010, after beating Italy 3-1 in the third-place playoff.
After five silver medals, Serbia became World League champions in 2016, winning their first gold medal in the competition with a straight-sets win over Brazil in the final at Krakow’s Tauron Arena.
They followed up this success with a stunning World League debut in 2016, immediately qualifying for the Final Four where they beat
Slovenia’s only previous international successes had been a gold medal in the European League in 2015, following two bronze medals in 2011 and 2014.
Serbia’s greatest volleyball moment was gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, after a bronze at Atlanta 1996, both under coach Zoran Gajic, who is now President of the Serbian Volleyball Federation.
Serbia are not short of continental success, having been crowned European champions twice, in 2001 and 2011. In the latest edition of the European Championship, Serbia won their eighth bronze in the history of the competition, defeating Belgium in five sets in the third-place playoff.
Serbia are one of the FIVB’s core teams in the Volleyball Nations League and, in the inaugural edition, they finished pool play in fourth place on an 11-4 record, qualifying for the Final Six in Lille.
Greece 3-0 in the semifinals and knocked out Germany 3-1 in the final in Frankfurt to gain promotion to Group 2 for 2017.
Slovenia are making their FIVB World Championship debut this year – the only team amongst the 24 entrants to be doing so.
10 /4 9
TUNISIA (POOL C)
FIVB WORLD RANKING
24 LAST RESULT 2010
21 MEDALS
0
0
0
USA (POOL C)
ITALY-BULGARIA 2018 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
74
Matthew ANDERSON
1987
202
100
99
Aaron RUSSELL
1993
205
98
186
82
Taylor SANDER
1992
196
80
206
75
Jeffrey JENDRYK II
1995
208
89
1996
199
87
James SHAW
1994
203
98
1991
188
73
Mitchell STAHL
1994
203
84
Elyes KARAMOSLI
1989
198
99
Kawika SHOJI
1987
190
79
Nabil MILADI
1988
196
73
Torey DEFALCO
1997
198
95
Amen Allah HMISSI
1988
180
78
Carson CLARK
1989
205
93
Hamza NAGGA
1990
191
84
Daniel MCDONNELL
1988
200
90
Hakim ZOUARI
1988
197
97
FIVB WORLD RANKING
Micah CHRISTENSON
1993
198
88
Anouer TAOUERGHI
1983
178
74
1987
205
90
Nidhal RIDENE
1996
178
75
Benjamin PATCH
1994
203
90
Mohamed CHENNAOUI
1991
180
74
2
Maxwell HOLT Micah MA’A
1997
192
88
Mahdi Ben CHEIKH
1979
184
85
Brenden SANDER
1995
193
78
Khaled Ben SLIMENE
1994
193
78
1992
208
93
Chokri JOUINI
1989
196
72
Taylor AVERILL
1992
201
94
Ali BONGUI
1996
180
75
7
Jake LANGLOIS David SMITH – C
1985
201
86
Mohamed Ben Youssef LASGER
1997
192
80
MEDALS
Dustin WATTEN
1986
182
80
Omar AGREBI
1992
205
82
Erik SHOJI
1989
184
83
Fahmi Ben Taleb Hassen MILADI
1993
200
78
Michael BRINKLEY
1992
178
68
Marouane MRABET
1990
188
75
Kyle ENSING
1997
201
100
NAME
BORN
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Mohamed RIDENE
1996
180
Ahmed KADHI
1989
199
Marouane M’RABET – C
1985
Yassine ABDELHEDI
1999
Wassim BEN TARA Mohamed Ali Ben Othmen MILADI
LAST RESULT 2014
1
0
1
Reigning African champions Tunisia are taking part in their 10th FIVB World Championship, marking a continuous presence since 2002.
Their best finish to date was 15th place in 2006.
Currently ranked number two in the FIVB World Ranking, the USA have an impressive history in the men’s game. As well as FIVB World Championship gold in 1986 in Paris, the USA have won four
golds at the Pan-American Games and nine at the North, Central America & Caribbean (NORCECA) Championships (including last year following a sweep of the Dominican Republic in the final).
Tunisia have competed six times in the Olympic Games, their best finish being ninth in Los Angeles 1984, when they scored their first and only Olympic win, 3-2 over Egypt.
At a continental level, Tunisia have won a medal at every African Championship they have attended, apart from in 2009 when they finished fifth.
The USA has been a consistent presence at the World Championship since 1966 and are making their 16th appearance this year. In addition to their gold in 1986 (when they beat the USSR in the final), they also picked up a bronze in 1994 after beating Cuba 3-1 in the third-place playoff in Piraeus, Greece.
The USA have won two FIVB World League gold medals. The first came in 2008, in Rio, with a 3-1 win over Serbia in the final, and the second in 2014, in Florence, following a 3-1 win over Brazil.
Their latest Olympic appearance was in London 2012, where they ranked joint 11th.
Their FIVB World Cup performances haven been consistent in recent outings, having finished 12th in 1995, 1999, 2007 and 2015.
Most recently in 2017, the team claimed gold after beating Egypt 3-0, ending the Egyptians run of six straight championships.
In 2015, the USA won the FIVB World Cup, their second triumph in the
competition after first winning it back in 1985. Victory earned the team a direct ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and, in the bronze medal match, a dramatic, five-set comeback win over Russia secured them an incredible bronze medal. This was the USA’s fifth Olympic medal, after golds at the Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988 and Beijing 2008 Games, as well as a bronze at Barcelona 1992.
In the inaugural FIVB Volleyball Nations League,
the USA advanced to the Final Six in Lille after an 11-4 pool play record. They fell to France 3-2 in spectacular fashion in the semi-finals, but swept Brazil 3-0 to claim third place. Fans will be hoping to see their team back on the podium in Turin.