Noorderling29

England and Scotland is the same group, while Olympic qualification is at stake, is a bit strange.

NL plays against Mexico with a team mostly consisting of the reserves

With two defeats, without having played any of the three top teams yet, this should mean the end of any hope. To be fair, the Belgian team did not expect to qualify here, but hoped to gain a lot of points. With losses against PR and Argentinia, this target will also be missed. Hard to see them qualifying through the ranking.

Belgium will miss both Derwael and Vaelen for certain, and I think I’ve read somewhere they have a further uncertainty. There’s seems to a an assumption in at least part of the Belgian press that they won’t be able to take the team quota. I’ve seen at least one article speculating how Derwael could qualify.

Was a surprised to see the Dutch flag after Ceric’s name.

Given the amount of pessimism on this thread, I would not be surprised if in the end no team qualifies from this tournament

Money talks

A bit premature? Poland leading in the 3rd set, 1 - 1 in sets.

For European teams, it’s better than it was. Under the old system, a team could be around 8th on the ranking, but have no chance of qualifying, because there were stronger European teams. Under the new system that regional block is removed, so the strongest teams will participate in Paris, while at the same time assuring all continents are represented.

Not necessarily, the one point against Canada could theoretically be decisive. If for instance China wins all its matches 3-0 or 3-1, and the Dutch team wins all matches beside the China one with the same numbers, the Dutch team would finish in front of Serbia by at least that one point, whatever the remaining Serbian results. Unlikely scenario, but mathematically possible.

Minor teams are eliminating each other. As they say, yesterday’s winners are today’s losers and vice versa. I think a lot can happen between now and June. A few bad losses to lower placed teams (like Dominican Republic against the Chechs) and you lose many points. Unless one of the minor teams (Germany f.I.) qualify, 10th place should be enough. NL and DR are currently 9th and 10th and have a significant cushion over Canada, of over 30 points. But yesterday has shown we are quite capable of losing the advantage over Canada.

I left the house at 10 - 13 in the 5th, and saw at my phone that the set ended at 13-15. Was not aware that the team came back, just to give it away again.

So incredibly predictable

Not this time, I fear

Game is far from over

The Canadian coach’s master plan seems to be to attack Plak (our number 4). It hasn’t really worked so far.

I do little else.

Olympic champion Nina Derwael (Belgium) will not participate, due to a new shoulder injury.

In the 2022 World Champs the silver winning Dutch W8 was formed by rowers double starting. But it’s certainly not a regular event.

Thailand of course are dangerous outsiders. Often nearly there, maybe this time will be different

Slovenia it is then.

Germany qualifying from the OQT will practically torpedoe our chances, unless a few miracles happen.

End of September the World Championships Gymnastics will see further qualifications, both team and individual. Also the OQT Volleybal. The women first (I believe this weekend) and then the men. A total of 12 teams will qualify (I.e. halve of participating teams)

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dutch coaches decide not to enter any boats. There are 4 events without a Dutch quota. It seems unlikely they will be able to find competitive LDS. There was no Dutch W8 in Belgrade, and one could only be formed through having athletes enter in two events. So it really depends on the schedule in Paris and the willingness of the coaches to take risks on double starts. If they do, it would inevitably be a very competitive boat, consisting of more than a few current World Champions in other boats. Remains the MSS. I think it’s anyone’s guess, but if competitive rowers were available, they would have started in Belgrade. This was clearly the odds and ends boat, without any real expectation of success.

3. Belgium