The 2017 edition of the FIVB Volleyball World League will start on 2 June!!
The opening weekend of the 2017 competition will start with a repeat of last year’s Olympic final: Brazil vs Italy!! On the second weekend, 2012 Olympic champions Russia will play against 2016 Olympic bronze medallists the United States.
InstaVolley marks seven teams which is the favorites to win the 2017 World League: Brazil, Italy, USA, Russia, Serbia, France and Poland. Brazil and Italy have dominated the World League over the years, while Serbia is the defending champions of 2016. France made their amazing historic champions title in 2015, Russia is the 2012 London Olympic gold medalist with help of their scoring machine, opposite spiker Maxim Mikhaylov. Poland will be headed by two-time Olympians Michal Kubiak and Bartosz Kurek. USA having Matt Anderson and complemented by setter Micah Christenson, also cannot be ignored.
The World League’s Preliminary Round adopts the format used for the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Preliminary Round, with three different venues hosting matches over each of the three weeks of play for Groups 1 and 2, while Group 3 will take place over two weeks.
Of the 12 teams in Group 1, 11 also competed in the top tier in 2016 (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Iran, Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia and the USA). They are joined by 2016 Group 2 winners Canada. The top five of a combined Preliminary Round ranking will join the Finals hosts from June 28 to July 2.
Group 2 will also feature 12 teams. They include ten teams which competed in Group 2 in 2016 (China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Turkey), who will be joined by 2016 Group 3 winners Slovenia and Australia, who drop down from Group 1 after finishing 12th. The ever-improving Slovenians, who finished runners-up at the European Championships, and Australia are among the favourites. The Finals, from June 23 to 25, will be contested between the top three from the Preliminary Round and the hosts.
Group 3 will also feature 12 teams (Chinese Taipei, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Montenegro, Qatar, Spain, Tunisia, and Venezuela, joined by newcomers Estonia and Austria in their first FIVB World League appearances). The top three of the combined standings will join the hosts for the Group 3 Finals from June 16 to 18. 2014 World Championship bronze medallists Germany and Montenegro will be among the favourites.
Photo and Source: FIVB
