Federer91

Of course, nothing to take away from the Canadian teams at all. Like you mentioned, it's a very balanced matchup, but it seems CAN always gets the upper hand in the end. Definitely one of the more unfavorable opponents for us.

Don't know what is it with Canada, but they always manage to bring out our worst play. Just like with the women the prior week, a near perfect opening round could have happened, if it weren't for the CAN loses. Now it's still a very good start compared with our previous seasons, but the feeling that we could have done a bit more is lingering.. And especially for the men, if we had started 3-1 it very much could have guaranteed us a playoff spot, given our remaining schedule, which still hasn't happened, since they changed the World League format.

Is Ukraine a new power all of a sudden What the heck is going on

We are only on day 2 and teams are already getting wins over high seeded ones. Ukraine beat USA, China beat Serbia, Argentina beat France, but unsurprisingly we were the ones to lose to Italy And I actually think we played a very good match, just Italy didn't make any play mistakes for practically 3 out of 4 sets.

This match, damn When the match started i was at the country house preparing stuff. I left for home, went passed my aunt, who has a birthday, in another village. Stayed there for a while, then came home to the city. Match was still going Went through the bathroom, had dinner, finished with dinner, match was still going. I was afraid when i would go to sleep the match wouldn't have finished.

Looks like we have nothing left for the match with Holland. The team is physically and emotionally spent after the Serbia match last night and this one comes too soon. The whole weeks play is showing it's tall, as we basically played every match with the same 6 players. Not that we were favorites against Holland to begin with, even though they are with a younger squad, they still have a very organized and smart play, which is always a problem for us.

What a bizarre match with Serbia. In the first 4 sets there was only one team playing, where practically everything was going for them and neither were close. Then in the tiebreak it's neck and neck with lots of drama and happily we pulled it off in the end. But watching women's volleyball is sooo frustrating. Like we were dominating sets 2 and 3 and then the fourth starts and bam it's 0:7 from the get go and we barely make 10 points. Like how? As if completely different players came on the field, but they weren't from 2 & 3. Anyone can lose a set, but such amplitudes in performance is not good. Serbia probably found their next Boskovic in Uzelac. She is going to be a really annoying player to play against in the future. She has all the components to be a big star and carried this Serbian team in the big moments.

Idiotic loss of second set for us. Could happen only in women's volleyball

Disappointing performance, I expected better play..

No surprises on day 1 so far. Italy is pummeling the US right now, but it was expected with the Americans using a B team.

Some pegged Andreeva to win the whole thing, but there is some time to go before her time. I don't expect Boisson to beat Gauff, but her run has been a shocker. And it was mostly under the radar. Before today there were hardly many mentions about her on Eurosport and in general i reckon.

Wow, S. Yates is going to win the Giro on the same climb at which he lost the 2018 one. Redemption

False, UEFA has had 7 official competitions including The Intercontinental Cup and Intertoto Cup, which they have not won. Juventus is the only club, that had won all 6 of UEFA competitions, before they introduced the Conference League. Chelsea has 5/7.

Del Toro seems to have trouble on the longer climbs, so i'm definitely not sold on his victory, regardless how cool of a story it would be. Carapaz closed to gap to 40 seconds and Friday & Saturday stages are of his specialty, so i'd say he is the favorite. Would be an unfortunate end for UAE, which at one point had 4 riders in the top 6 or something.

Therese Johaug has said on Instagram, that she won't be going to the Olympics and is most likely retired again.

Roglic losing time once again. I wouldn't say he is out of contention, because he usually does miracles in the final weeks, but it's surprising he is underperforming in a race without Pogacar or Vingegaard. I have a feeling UAE really wants to win with Ayuso, but Del Toro is in such a fantastic form, that they can't hold him back. He looked the best out of everyone today. Let's see if they will let him attack on Tuesday or stay with Ayuso to help him for second.

Hmm, didn't knew that Switzerland have been so good at hockey They have been waltzing the whole tournament from what i see. Are they actually really good, or it's the usual case of the best players not doing the IIHF WC? A.k.a are they in contention for the Olympic title in 8 months?

A bit of chaos today after a late crash and many of the favourites lost time, but not Del Toro. Things have gotten very interesting before Monte Grappa tomorrow. Shame that Tiberi lost so much unnecessary time though.

This has absolutely no value. Heck i would suggest countries actively banning these events and fining people promoting such "sport". I had mentioned a while, that Bulgarian talent Josif Miladinov also announced his retirement, but unlike Gkolomeev, he is in his early career. Now there are reports, that he purposely retired to compete in these "Games" and go after their money. What can i say, typical Eastern European mentality.

I've said it multiple times, that smaller sports should definitely be adopting a World Cup circuit like FIS does with skiing, or in tennis etc. in order to somehow popularize the sport. It's always better to have a clear competition system for the athletes, for the fans, for the TVs, to know which are big events, what are the stakes, have some continuity etc. As for LA28 qualification, let's hope the rankings quotas won't be more than 50% in an event and there are still the direct qualification regattas for people who for some reason couldn't be performing year out.

Boe brothers: "We are at the top of our sport and next year are the Olympics, but nah, let's someone else do it, who cares." Meanwhile Teddy Riner (and hundreds of others) "I will go to the Olympics until i'm 50, as long as my body allows it"

Ayuso showing very good form yesterday and UAE as a whole were on point as usual. Del Toro especially is doing a breakthrough performance (at least for me) and having a Mexican in this sport is something unique

Don't know if there is a bigger fall from relevancy (at least in this century) than the demise of the WTCC ->WTCR -> TCR or whatever it's called now series. Eurosport is showing highlights from the opening round in Mexico (with a 10 day delay i might add ) and there are literally only 400-500 people there. In Mexico nonetheless, a place where they worship motorsports. If they didn't show the start line stand you would think the only people there were the organizers, some media and the teams and their friends. For race 3 now there are a bit more fans, but races 1 & 2 were like a ghost track. Why Hyundai, Volvo and Honda continue to spend money on this is beyond me.

We are having hopes for a much better campaign this year. Our legend Antonina Zetova is now the coach of the women's senior NT after having wonderful results with the junior ones. This led to the return of some of the older and well established players like Elitsa Atanasijevic and Hristina Vuchkova who were not playing in the NT the past couple of years. They are also calling some of the junior players to start incorporating them to the team. Short term goals is to start beating teams slightly above us in the rankings and managing to finish mid-table in the VNL. Big goal is qualifying for LA28.

I'm sure Karlos would have definitely preferred it to stay at 98 kg. While 94 isn't bad, he expected to gain weight in the coming years. But yeah, the five you mentioned seem the most logical to be selected.