Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 21, 2015 – On Sunday, the Men’s EuroVolley ended with France taking its first-ever gold medal, following Russia’s successful back-to-back championship run in the women’s final last October 4. In a blog entry by Mauricio Jahu on ESPN.com.br, the author argued that, in the light of recent results at the EuroVolley tournaments, the Brazilian national teams are likely to face strong opposition at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Aside from Brazil, who are qualified as hosts, the Chinese and Serbian women are qualified for Rio 2016 after finishing first and second at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup. Other women’s teams still in contention for a place at the Olympic Games with continental and World Olympic Qualification tournaments still to take place include the United States, Russia, Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Italy and Poland.
Full qualification process explained here:
Brazil women’s coach José Roberto Guimarães may also face selection difficulties with Thaisa Menezes for example still recovering from surgery on both knees and not yet returned to competitive play.
The Brazilian men, on the other hand, now know they will take on teams from the United States and Italy (who finished first and second at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup) and Argentina, who secured a berth at Olympic Games when they captured gold at the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament. Other European competitors will vie for a spot in Rio in the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Berlin, Germany, in January 2016, which will feature teams from reigning Olympic gold medallists Russia, world champions Poland, European champions and World League winners France, as well as Serbia, Bulgaria and Germany. They will be joined in Rio by teams from the African, NORCECA and World Olympic Qualification tournaments.
With injuries hounding the Brazilian team, coach Bernardo Rezende will also know his team can look forward to a challenging tournament in Rio de Janeiro next year. Murilo Endres has undergone two surgeries on his shoulder; in the opposite position, Wallace is also recovering from surgery and his substitute Evandro, already 32 years old, has a history of knee injuries.