[Noorderling29 170]

We have one of the best opposite’s in the men’s game, but he is surrounded by an average team, while we have a decent women’s team, but no good opposite.

[Noorderling29 170]

It seems to me it would be far better to not qualify and take some time to rest and let the injuries heal.

 

 

[Noorderling29 170]

First all, none of the things you mention were in our control.

 

Secondly, I watched the match on replay, so without the emotion of watching it live. My main conclusion was that we won from the bench.Kozlowski was able to bring in three new players at the end of the first set, even though the result did not even necessitate it at that moment. Also he brought in our best player Daalderop for the final few points; because of her injury she had not played a single point in the entire VNL. Also, Canada made far too many mistakes, especially in the send set.

 

Would Canada have won in a different format? Who knows: Canada won the two matches last year, but these matches were very close, with both teams dominating stretches of the match. Also, a significant number of our players are still young and inexperienced and have developed from last year.

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 6/14/2024 at 3:11 PM, Jinzha said:

Agreed! This must be a hard match to watch on the losing side. Especially after such a long and close qualification race.

 

It's never over till it's over, but in this form we really should be taking at least a set versus . I never expected our volleyball team would get this far this Olympic cycle!

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Indeed, after the very poor World Championships in 2022, and the retirement of several players. Paris would be a good experience, the nucleus of the team is young enough to continue until at least 2028. Probably see Knip, Plak, Buijs and Dijkema retire after Paris. Jasper, Timmerman and Bongaerts would be 32 in 2028,  so may not make that tournament 

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 6/14/2024 at 8:14 AM, mattadders said:

Hold on folks. I’ve just made some corrections to my calculations. And I can confirm. The media are right. It’s not official. If Canada sweep France, then somehow South Korea sweep the Netherlands, Canada would win the quota by 0.27 points. 

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IIRC, the Dutch team needs to win just one set?

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 6/14/2024 at 8:04 AM, mattadders said:

By my math is official. But the commentators and the Dutch team are acting like it’s not confirmed. 

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Yes, both the Dutch TV reporter and our Teletekst service say the team is almost qualified. 

[Noorderling29 170]

Happy to see that in the end, the quotum will most likely be decided by the result of this match and not by which opponents played at full strength and which did not. Would not be totally surprised if we were to give it away in our last match against SK.

Edited June 14, 2024 by Noorderling29

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 6/12/2024 at 1:23 PM, JoshMartini007 said:

likely needs to beat 3-1 to overtake them. 3-2 is still possible, but we will need to win by better scores than the Netherlands in our other two games.

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We’re more or less back to we’re we were at the start of the VNL. That’s better for us than for Canada. We have it in our own hands, but will most likely throw it away.

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 6/2/2024 at 7:16 AM, NikolaB said:

Nope. You are safe 😂😂😂

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So level playing field

[Noorderling29 170]

Given their 3-0 victory against France this morning, and the limited number of points Canada can gain against South Korea this evening (our time), the Dutch tem has leapfrogged Canada. Still too close to call.

[Noorderling29 170]

The big difference between the 2016/2018 successful Dutch team and the current one is the absence of an opposite like Lonneke Sloetjes.  Celeste Plak does not deliver the same consistency and number of points and I’m still not convinced that Damberink has what it takes.
 

So we’ve fallen back from being number 4 to 6 of the world (with 4th places at both the Rio Olympics and 2018 Worlds) to around 10 to 12. Good enough to scare a better team on our day and to make to the final 4 at the Europeans but not good enough to be competitive for prices at the World stage. 

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 6/1/2024 at 5:39 AM, Josh said:

I will also say that we need to stop relying on big points Gray and Van Ryk every single match. Clearly they’re getting tired. 
 

And neither team deserves to qualify for the Olympics honestly, both teams keep blowing chances. 

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Against the Dominican Republic, the Dutch team played mostly with their reserves, with the setter and the main attackers staying on the bench, with the opposite and setter only coming in for a few points at the end of the sets.

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 10/9/2023 at 7:23 AM, heywoodu said:

Damn, Belgium was so close to their first ever Olympics  

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Belgium participated in 1968; the did not qualify but replaced Romania that withdrew.

[Noorderling29 170]

Belgium also lost 3-2 to Poland, but won 3-0 against Netherlands. 

[Noorderling29 170]

It’s Deja Vu all over again today: NL vs Can, with from my perspective hopefully a different outcome than two weeks ago.

[Noorderling29 170]

Not impossible, but it’s always better to be 22 points in front than 22 behind

[Noorderling29 170]

We really could do with a powerful opposite, like Sloetjens used to be. Plak makes some miraculous points, but is not in the same league with the top opposites, like Boskovic or Martinez who always deliver when their teams needs them. Dambrink is still young, but I don’t think she’s the answer. 

[Noorderling29 170]

This game highlights next year’s VNL problem. A match between a team that after 2-1 has nothing to play for than perhaps pride, and is inevitably a little less motivated, and a team that has to get as much points as possible. A Dutch victory in the 5th set could be very important, points wise. 

[Noorderling29 170]

Now for the match and those all important ranking points. But really have to take those chances that come along occasionally 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Noorderling29

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 9/23/2023 at 9:35 PM, Monzanator said:

Poland can qualify with a loss only if they lose to Italy with more sets won than USA vs Germany.

 

USA only needs to win two sets vs Germany and they qualify no matter what is the result of Italy vs Poland.

 

Poland basically has to win at least two sets to stand a chance. If they lose 1-3 the only result for them is Germany win 3-0 which is the least probable out of the entire set IMO.

 

 

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So: USA 27 out of 36, Poland 21 out of 36, Italy 24 out of 36.

[Noorderling29 170]

Mission improbable for the Dutch team, but then I’m a natural born pessimist.

 

But crazy how far the Dutch team has progressed under Koslowski, compared to last year’s disappointment at the Worlds, and the general decline of the last 4 years.

 

Koslowski has created the nucleus of a competitive team, bringing in talented youngsters. Interesting to see how this team will progress in the run up to 2028.

[Noorderling29 170]

  On 9/22/2023 at 2:46 PM, Adriano said:

Is there anything in this olympic period that Netherlands failed?

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Yes, but it’s probably not a long list. Men’s football springs to mind.

[Noorderling29 170]

Crazy wild, just came home from visiting my mother in her carehome, am now watching the end of the match.

[Noorderling29 170]

A bit better, but still 0-2 down. Hard to see how to come back from this. A defeat will almost certainly spell the end of Dutch aspirations here.

[Noorderling29 170]

So far the Dutch team is heavily outgunned, everything points towards a 3-0 victory for China.