LDOG

Because it's easier to "climb the ladder" in women's sport (since it's less developed) than it is in men's, it's the same in all team sports. See for example Brazil handball national teams: both have almost all players in european leagues since a few years but the women have reached a higher level in less time.

Well, in my country at least I think there are people very proud about their heritage, but in the case of argentinians that have represented Spain or Italy in the past (or present), I think it's mostly about either lack of opportunity to improve in sports where Argentina is weak or, on the contrary, lack of space in sports in which argentina is good. Ps. What I find incredible about Italian law is that for example I have Italian citizenship despite that I have never set a foot in Italy and that I don't even speak italian, while someone like Mario Balotelli (who is absolutely italian) didn't get it until he turned 18 (!).

There is also the bunch of south americans and north americans you have in several team sports... I recall that your opinion about that is that they are Italian "ethnically", but still, it's feeding from systems of other countries.

You guys talk as if the games will be in Paris or Budapest but they will be in Tokyo. Sorry, but home advantage always makes a team perform to the best (or close to) of their capabilities. This is a law of olympics, tested and proven every 4 years. Japan with less than 5 or 6 golds would be a disaster for them.

They won 8 last year and now they already have 4 + 2 finals but they somehow will fail at home, ok

Yes, just saw your score and I thought I did well today...

Russia in final 6 barring a disaster tomorrow. Last place between Poland and France then (other teams also have chance but it's too marginal). Really great day of predictions for me, all correct winners and half of matches with perfect score

Did someone read this? http://italy-bulgaria2018.fivb.com/en/news/valentin-bratoev-the-americans-were-like-monstars?id=79027

Yes, exactly that. It's a bit tragic... back when he was playing we had him as a great opposite but a very bad team around him, now we have a good team except for the opposite

No, they need to win.

I hope the same, but he will probably get away with it once more.

You also need Russia to lose both matches (unlikely given they play Finland tomorrow) + Netherlands losing to Italy (not that unlikely) + Slovenia losing to both Brazil and Australia (unlikely) + Belgium losing to Brazil (not unlikely). So, 4 conditions out of which 2 are really difficult.

ARG won u23 wch last year and made final of u19 and u21 in 2015. I think the problem is rather the lack of a reliable attacker. Someone you give the ball and know he will score almost all times.

How did they lose that set? Too bad. At least we saved energy for tomorrow. Our substitute libero is just TERRIBLE, I think the poor kid hasn't defended a single ball in all championship. Don't know he gets to play so many points.

Zero energy from Argentina today and I don't think the assistant coach can motivate them back into the match so think this will be over soon.

Our coach is suspended by FIVB, he won't be in bench today. Also, two of our players won't play because they got injured after crashing into each other yesterday not very important players but still, very silly.

I made our players angry on Twitter, I take credit for this win

Heynen show started. His team is winning by a large margin yet he complains about literally everything to refs and talks to the opponents too. Insufferable cunt!

Also, with Serbian victory we're officially eliminated before playing any second round match No pressure now (?).

IMO: -Italy and Brazil are qualified 99%. -USA still needs to beat Iran or Bulgaria. Iran must beat both Bulgaria and Canada to arrive with chances to that final match vs USA. -Russia needs to beat Italy esentially. -Don't think Belgium or Slovenia have any chance since I don't see either beating Brazil. -Poland and Serbia are h2h. France still has small chance but they need for Argentina to beat any of the other two. The cut I think is in 6 wins, you get that and you are in next round.

Those sweet, sweet prediction points coming to me

This table must be wrong btw, we won't participate in Diving.

Yes, but athletes don't have weight limits to meet. This girl is apparently 172cm tall, that's huge for 48kg Anyways, russian/ukranian girls are known for being skinny so maybe she will keep form. I was just thinking loud, i'm not a nutrionist after all hope the best to her, regardless of physique she's very talented in technical part as well.

Yikes, i'm crossing off athletics from events I plan to attend then.

What I have noticed about this Bilodid girl (other than how hard IJF pushes her marketing-wise) is that she's incredibly tall for this category. Given her current age I think she will have serious problems to keep the weight when her body matures in a few years.