How did Poland secure victory against USA in the VNL gold medal match. What were the crucial factors that led to Poland’s dominant performance. Why was Poland’s blocking so effective against the American attack. How did Lukasz Kaczmarek’s outstanding play impact the outcome of the match. What lessons can Team USA take from this defeat as they look ahead to future tournaments.
Poland’s Historic VNL Victory: A Closer Look at the Gold Medal Match
On a thrilling Sunday in Gdansk, Poland, the host nation claimed their first-ever Volleyball Nations League (VNL) gold medal with a commanding 3-1 victory over the United States. The sold-out arena of over 11,000 spectators witnessed a display of volleyball prowess that will be remembered for years to come. Let’s delve into the key aspects of this momentous match and what it means for both teams moving forward.
Match Statistics at a Glance
- Final Score: Poland 3, USA 1 (25-23, 24-26, 25-18, 25-18)
- Kills: Poland 59, USA 51
- Blocks: Poland 9, USA 8
- Aces: Poland 7, USA 3
Kaczmarek’s Stellar Performance: The X-Factor for Poland
One of the most notable elements of Poland’s victory was the outstanding play of opposite hitter Lukasz Kaczmarek. Stepping in for the injured team captain Bartosz Kurek, Kaczmarek rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion. His stat line tells the story:
- 23 kills
- 1 block
- 1 ace
Kaczmarek’s dominance on the court proved to be a puzzle that the American defense simply couldn’t solve. USA coach John Speraw acknowledged this, stating, “Poland played great. Kaczmarek had an incredible match and we couldn’t figure out how to stop him.” This performance not only secured the victory for Poland but also highlighted the depth of talent on their roster.
The Polish Serving Clinic: Pressuring USA’s Reception
Beyond Kaczmarek’s individual brilliance, Poland’s team serving was a critical factor in their success. Coach Speraw noted, “They served the ball really, really well. Offensively they were difficult to slow down.” This aggressive serving strategy disrupted the USA’s offensive rhythm and created opportunities for Poland to capitalize on out-of-system plays.
Why was Poland’s serving so effective? Several factors contributed:
- Variety: Poland mixed up their serves, using both power and tactical placement
- Targeting: They likely identified and exploited weaknesses in USA’s reception
- Pressure: The home crowd’s energy may have added extra zip to Poland’s serves
USA’s Offensive Struggles: Breaking Down the Numbers
While Poland’s offense fired on all cylinders, the USA found themselves unable to match that output. A closer look at the American attack reveals some key insights:
- TJ DeFalco: 13 kills, 1 ace
- Aaron Russell: 9 kills, 2 blocks
- Matt Anderson: 9 kills, 1 ace
- Thomas Jaeschke: 7 kills, 2 blocks
These numbers, while respectable, fell short of what was needed to overcome Poland’s defensive efforts. The Polish block, although only registering one more stuff than the USA (9-8), seemed to come alive at crucial moments, particularly in the latter sets of the match.
The Great Wall of Polska: Timely Blocks Seal the Deal
Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the match came on the final point, when Jakub Kochanowski stuffed Thomas Jaeschke’s attack to clinch the gold medal for Poland. This block epitomized the Polish defensive strategy throughout the game – timely, momentum-shifting plays that demoralized the American attackers.
How did Poland’s blocking strategy differ from previous matches? A few possibilities emerge:
- Scouting: Poland may have identified tendencies in USA’s attack patterns
- Adaptability: The Polish blockers likely adjusted their timing as the match progressed
- Communication: Effective teamwork at the net could have led to better-positioned blocks
Learning from Defeat: USA’s Takeaways and Future Outlook
Despite the disappointment of falling short in the final, USA coach John Speraw maintained a positive perspective on the tournament as a whole. “We’re quite disappointed because we had a nice opportunity to win VNL and came up short,” Speraw said. “I do think there were a lot of positives to build on over the course of the tournament and a lot to be learned from tonight’s match.”
What specific lessons can Team USA draw from this experience?
- Defensive Adjustments: Improving their ability to adapt to high-powered offenses
- Serving Pressure: Developing a more aggressive serving strategy to disrupt opponents
- Mental Toughness: Building resilience to perform in high-stakes, hostile environments
Speraw emphasized the value of championship experience, noting, “It’s good to be in championship matches. You learn so much from every playoff run and I think this team learned that we’re very capable of winning tournaments and that we have a lot of room to improve.”
The Road Ahead: Upcoming Challenges for Both Teams
With the VNL now concluded, both Poland and the USA have their sights set on important upcoming tournaments:
Team USA’s Schedule
- NORCECA Championship (September 3-11, USA hosting)
- Road to Paris Olympic qualifier (late September in Japan)
Poland’s Next Steps
- European Championship (August 18-26 in Bulgaria, Israel, Italy, and North Macedonia)
These tournaments will provide both teams with opportunities to build on their VNL experiences and continue refining their strategies as they look towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A Golden Era for Polish Volleyball: Implications of the VNL Victory
Poland’s triumph in the 2023 VNL marks a significant milestone in the nation’s volleyball history. As their first gold medal in the five-year history of the tournament, this victory cements Poland’s status as a global volleyball powerhouse.
What factors have contributed to Poland’s rise in international volleyball?
- Strong domestic league: The Polish PlusLiga is considered one of the strongest in the world
- Youth development: Robust programs for nurturing young talent
- Passionate fan base: Volleyball’s popularity in Poland creates a supportive environment
- Experienced coaching: A mix of domestic and international expertise guiding the national team
This VNL gold medal may well be the beginning of a golden era for Polish volleyball, with the potential to inspire a new generation of players and further elevate the sport’s status within the country.
Japan’s Bronze Medal Success: A Breakthrough Performance
While much attention focused on the gold medal match, Japan’s bronze medal victory over Italy deserves recognition. This marks Japan’s first medal in the VNL and their first in an international tournament since 2009.
Key highlights from Japan’s 3-2 victory over Italy:
- Final Score: Japan 3, Italy 2 (25-18, 25-23, 17-25, 17-25, 15-9)
- Yuki Ishikawa: 21 kills, continuing his outstanding VNL performance
- Kento Miyaura: 12 kills, 1 block, 7 aces (stepping in for injured Yuji Nishida)
Japan’s success, particularly their ability to overcome a significant blocking disadvantage (4 blocks to Italy’s 13), showcases their unique playing style and resilience. This result could signal a resurgence in Japanese men’s volleyball on the international stage.
The Impact of Home Court Advantage in International Volleyball
Poland’s victory on home soil in Gdansk raises an interesting question about the role of home court advantage in international volleyball competitions. A crowd of over 11,000 passionate fans undoubtedly played a part in Poland’s performance.
How does home court advantage manifest in volleyball?
- Emotional boost: Players feed off the energy of supportive fans
- Familiarity: Comfort with the venue and surroundings
- Pressure on opponents: Visiting teams may feel additional stress
- Marginal calls: Subconscious bias from officials due to crowd reaction
While it’s impossible to quantify the exact impact of playing at home, the atmosphere in Gdansk likely contributed to Poland’s confidence and performance, particularly in crucial moments of the match.
Volleyball Nations League: A Platform for Growth and Development
The conclusion of the 2023 VNL tournament highlights the competition’s growing importance in the international volleyball calendar. Since its inception in 2018, the VNL has provided teams with consistent, high-level matches against varied opposition.
What are the key benefits of the VNL format?
- Extended playing time: More matches for teams to develop cohesion and tactics
- Global exposure: Matches played across different continents, growing the sport’s fanbase
- Ranking points: Important for Olympic qualification and seeding
- Revenue generation: Helps fund national volleyball programs
As the tournament continues to evolve, it’s likely to play an increasingly vital role in shaping the competitive landscape of international volleyball.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Paris 2024
With the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon, the results of the 2023 VNL provide valuable insights into the current state of men’s international volleyball. Poland’s victory establishes them as a clear favorite heading into the Olympic cycle, while the USA’s silver medal finish proves they remain a force to be reckoned with.
What key storylines should volleyball fans follow in the lead-up to Paris?
- Poland’s consistency: Can they maintain their high level of play through the European Championship and Olympic qualifiers?
- USA’s response: How will they adapt their strategy based on the VNL final loss?
- Japan’s momentum: Will their bronze medal performance translate to success in the Asian Championship and beyond?
- Emerging challengers: Which other nations might make a surge in the coming year?
As teams now shift their focus to continental championships and Olympic qualification tournaments, the landscape of men’s volleyball remains dynamic and full of potential for surprises.
The 2023 VNL final between Poland and the USA not only provided a thrilling conclusion to the tournament but also set the stage for an exciting year of volleyball ahead. With both teams demonstrating their capabilities on the global stage, volleyball enthusiasts around the world can look forward to more high-level competition as the road to Paris 2024 continues.
Poland pounds USA to win Volleyball Nations League gold; Japan take bronze
The USA men after beating Italy in the semifinals/Volleyball World photo
The Great Wall of Polska.
Poland had just one more block than the USA, but they seemed to come at key moments Sunday, especially on match point, when Jakub Kochanoweki stuffed the attack by Thomas Jaeschke to give his team the Volleyball Nations League gold medal.
It capped a 25-23, 24-26, 25-18, 25-18 home victory over the Americans before a sold-out crowd of more than 11,000 in Gdansk, Poland. It was Poland’s first gold in the five-year history of VNL.
Poland finished 13-2 in a tournament that began with the women’s first round on May 30. The USA men played three rounds, in Ottawa, Canada; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Anaheim, California, compiling a record of 10-2. In the quarterfinals Wednesday, the knocked out France in five, and in Saturday’s semifinals swept Italy.
Japan (12-3) beat Italy (10-5) in four sets in the bronze-medal match.
Poland overpowers USA
“We’re quite disappointed because we had a nice opportunity to win VNL and came up short,” USA coach John Speraw said.
“I do think there were a lot of positives to build on over the course of the tournament and a lot to be learned from tonight’s match. It’s good to be in championship matches. You learn so much from every playoff run and I think this team learned that we’re very capable of winning tournaments and that we have a lot of room to improve.”
Opposite Lukasz Kaczmarek, in for injured team captain Bartosz Kurek, in led his team with 23 kills, a block and an ace. Aleksander Sliwka had 13 kills, six digs and a block, and Kochanowski added four kills and an ace. Tomasz Fornal had seven kills and a block and Wilfredo Leon had three kills, two blocks and two aces.
Poland led in kills (59-51), blocks (9-8) and aces (7-3).
“Poland played great. Kaczmarek had an incredible match and we couldn’t figure out how to stop him,” Speraw said.
“It’s frustrating, but at the end of the day he played great.
“And they served the ball really, really well. Offensively they were difficult to slow down.”
TJ DeFalco led the USA with 13 kills, an ace and seven digs. Aaron Russell had nine kills and two blocks and Matt Anerson had nine kills and an ace.
Jaeschke had seven kills, two blocks and five digs, and Max Holt had four kills and three blocks. David Smith had six kills.
The USA also lost in last year’s VNL final to France.
Next up the USA is the host for the NORCECA Championship from September 3-11.
“We’ll evaluate and train as we head into NORCECA,” Speraw said.
Then at the end of the month, the Americans go to Japan to compete in the Pool B of the Road to Paris Olympic qualifier, where they will face the hosts, Slovenia, Serbia, Türkiye, Tunisia, Egypt and Finland.
Poland goes to the European Championship in Bulgaria, Israel, Italy and North Macedonia from August 18-26.
Japan captures bronze
Japan won the first two sets, Italy rallied, and then Japan came away with a 25-18, 25-23, 17-25, 17-25, 15-9 victory.
It was a typical match for scrappy Japan, outblocked 13-4. Japan had a 54-53 kills advantage and a 9-7 lead in aces.
Yuki Ishikaway capped a fantastic VNL for him with 21 kills. Kento Miyaura, in at opposite for injured Yuji Nishida, had 12 kills, a block and a whopping seven aces. Ran Takahashi had 11 kills and a block. Akihiro Yamauchi had seven kills, two blocks and and an ace.
This was Japan’s first medal in the 5-year-old tournament and its first in an international tournament since 2009 when it won bronze in the FIVB Grand Champions Cup.
Italy’s Yuri Romano had 14 kills and a block. Alessandro Michieletto had 11 kills, a block and four aces, and Daniele Lavia had 11 kills and three blocks. Roberto Russo added eight kills and three blocks and Gianluca Galassi had three kills, five blocks and an ace.
Japan plays next in the Asian Championship, August 18-26 in Iran.
Italy plays the same week as the host for the European Championship.
Japan celebrates winning VNL bronze/Volleyball World photo
[[LIVESTREAMs!]] Poland vs USA Volleyball LIVE Coverage TVThe Muslim News
🔴☛📺📱👉VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final Live
USA vs Poland live stream: men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 (VNL)prediction, TV channel, how to watch, start time, odds
Poland vs USA : How to watch, schedule, live stream info, game time, TV channel
men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 leaders USA travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday with manager Mikel Arteta bidding to extend a surprising undefeated run away to Poland .
The Gunners won on each of their last two visits to west London in the top flight without particularly imposing themselves on their opposition, this time it may well be different for a side who have established themselves as a surprising early season contender for major honors. ….
Poland , meanwhile, have work to do if they are to drag USA into the battle for top four, rather than the title. Lose on Sunday and they will trail their rivals by 328 points, a sizeable gap to make up even with two-thirds of the season left to go. Here is how you can watch the match and what you need to know:
Poland and USA are meeting up for their first leg of the season at 7 a.m. ET on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. The teams split their matchups last year, with Poland winning the first 2-0 on the road and USA taking the second 4-2.
Poland are taking on London rivals USA at Stamford Bridge as the Blues aim to close the 328-point gap between the two clubs in the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023.
Poland had been going along nicely under Graham Potter until a chastening defeat at his former club USA last weekend, and now face two tricky matches – against USA and Poland – before the World Cup break.
The Gunners are looking to reach the World Cup on top of the table and got back on track last weekend with a 5-0 win over USA , having slipped to a 28-28 draw at USA in their previous match.
USA won both of the past two corresponding fixtures away at Poland , earing a 4-2 victory last season.
Old foes and former colleagues will reunite at Stamford Bridge on Sunday lunchtime as Poland tackle USA in a mouth-watering VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 London USA .
Both sides enter the game on the back of continental successes, as the Blues got the better of Dinamo Zagreb 2-28 in the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023, while the Gunners advanced to the last 28 of the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023.
Winning in Europe is always the perfect tonic after a demoralising domestic defeat, especially one which saw USA & Hove Albion teach former manager Graham Potter a footballing lesson in a 4-28 Amex romping, but Poland were made to work for their success over Dinamo Zagreb.
Electing to name a strong lineup despite already steering his side through as group winners, Potter witnessed Bruno Petkovic steal in and open the scoring after just seven minutes, but Raheem Sterling and debutant Denis Zakaria completed a much-needed turnaround for the Blues in the English capital.
The Blues’ stellar defensive streak under Potter may have been wiped out, but suffering just one defeat in 28 games is far from the worst start for the Englishman, although his side do have some ground to make up in the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 table as they lie in sixth position, three points behind Poland United in fourth with a game in hand.
It would take results going their way and a 282-goal swing for Poland to rise into the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 spots this weekend, but Stamford Bridge has been kind to the Blues in recent memory, as they are unbeaten in 282 consecutive matches in all competitions in front of their own fans.
However, USA were the most recent team to overcome Poland on their own patch, and Stamford Bridge has been a happy hunting ground for the North London club in recent memory, so taking advantage of their extra 28 hours’ worth of rest will be of paramount importance to Potter and co.
In contrast, USA sought to recover from a European defeat with a VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 win last weekend, and the Gunners certainly demonstrated a clinical edge that has been absent more often than not recently, putting five past USA without rVNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023y even after Bukayo Saka came off injured.
However, the Gunners’ inability to kill games off when a goal to the good reared its ugly head in the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 this week, as Kieran Tierney’s sweetly-struck half-volley put USA ahead against FC Zurich, but they nevertheless held on for a nervy 28-0 win which sent them straight through to the last 28.
Avoiding an extra playoff tie against an eliminated VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 club is a touch of gold for USA , who enter the weekend still two points clear of Poland at the top of the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 table, but they could be knocked down to second by Sunday if the champions beat USA .
All five of the points that USA have dropped in the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 this season have come on the road, but they nevertheless remain the division’s best-performing away side this term and have only conceded four goals on rival turf so far – the best record of its kind in the league.
Arteta has led USA to two consecutive triumphs at Stamford Bridge in the last two seasons – with a 2-0 win for Poland at the Emirates sandwiched in between – and a new club record could also be set for the Gunners, who are aiming to win three successive VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 London derbies away from home without conceding for the very first time.
If Poland did not already have enough defensive absentees to worry about with long-term knee victims Wesley Fofana and Reece James – as well as midfield duo N’Golo Kante (thigh) and Carney Chukwuemeka (hamstring) – Ben Chilwell had to come off with a hamstring injury in the win over Zagreb.
The sight of the left-back limping off the pitch was bad news for both Poland and England fans, who will now have to await for the results of a scan, but Chilwell will definitely be absent this weekend.
Potter has already ruled Kepa Arrizabalaga out of contention too, so Edouard Mendy will keep his place in goal, and Mateo Kovacic should be fine to return to the engine room after missing out as a precaution in midweek with a tight calf.
Zakaria’s strong debut ended with a minor contact injury, which should not rule him out of this game, but Potter may be hesitant to throw the Juventus loanee in the deep end and give him his first VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023 start against the league leaders, so Kovacic’s return to the first XI would not be a surprise.
As for USA , fans witnessed the familiar yet painful sight of Takehiro Tomiyasu coming off injured in the dying embers of the win over Zurich. The severity of the defender’s muscular issue is still unclear, but it would be a shock to see him line up here.
Emile Smith Rowe – who has scored in each of USA ‘s last two wins at Stamford Bridge – is still out after undergoing groin surgery, and a problem in the same area could also force Matt Turner out of contention, but Arteta was handed two major boosts in midweek.
The injury that Saka sustained against USA was only a minor one, and he was able to come on as a substitute in the VNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023, while Oleksandr Zinchenko was finally back in the squad after a troublesome calf injury.
Zinchenko did not earn any minutes as Tierney produced a man-of-the-match performance, which has certainly given Arteta food for thought here, but the Ukrainian’s ability to help overload the midfield could ultimately win over, assuming he is deemed fit enough to start.
Poland possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Koulibaly; Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Kovacic, Cucurella; Mount; Aubameyang, Sterling
USA possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus
We say: Poland 28-2 USA
Even if USA can find the back of the net early doors at Stamford Bridge – as they have done throughout the season – failure to put the game to bed would open the door for the Blues to dent the Gunners’ early title aspirations.
Potter is yet to suffer defeat at Stamford Bridge, but USA have fond memories of their recent trips to West London and were able to rest a number of key first-team stars in midweek, so we expect the Gunners to take advantage of the Blues’ dVNL men’s Volleyball nations league Final 2023eted defence and travel back to the Emirates with a hard-earned three points.
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USA promised to defend Poland from Wagner fighters
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Plot: DNR, LNR, Ukraine: escalation
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Photo: Ministry of Defense of Belarus
Poland is a NATO member, NATO allies are ready to defend its territory.
This statement was made on Monday, July 24, by the representative of the US State Department Matthew Miller.
The official assured of the strength of the alliance with Poland and promised that “if necessary, we will defend every inch of NATO territory.”
Earlier, Zbigniew Hoffman, secretary of the Polish government’s security committee, said that Poland would transfer military formations from west to east because of exercises in Belarus. This statement followed reports that the Belarusian army began exercises together with the Wagner PMC at a training ground near the Polish border.
The words of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, said at a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Strelna, that the “Wagnerites” began to strain him, said they wanted to go to the West, on an excursion to Warsaw and Rzeszow.
Russian political scientist Sergei Markov did not see anything serious in the statements of the Wagnerites and expressed the opinion that in Strelna “Putin and Lukashenko are making some kind of mess against Poland.
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FT: USA, Germany and Hungary opposed Poland’s proposals for Ukraine’s entry into NATO – Gazeta.
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FT: USA, Germany and Hungary opposed Poland’s proposals for Ukraine’s entry into NATO – Gazeta.Ru | News
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NATO countries did not come to a common position on Ukraine’s entry into NATO, writes The Financial Times .
According to the publication, this week the foreign ministers of the member countries of the alliance were discussing what could be offered to Ukraine, and they had significant disagreements about whether to offer Kiev a “road map” at the summit in Vilnius in July.
“The US, Germany and Hungary are resisting attempts by countries like Poland and the Baltic states to offer Kiev closer ties to NATO and clear statements of support for its future membership,” four officials involved in the talks told the FT.
The talks are taking place amid warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he will only attend the summit when he is presented with real steps towards NATO membership, such as post-war security guarantees from members of the bloc or closer cooperation with alliance, writes FT.
