VNL 2023: Dutch defeat leaves Iran on the brink
A five-set loss to the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Saturday summed up yet another disappointing week for Iran in the Volleyball Nations League.
Inspired by prolific opposite and captain Nimir Abdel-Aziz, the home side came from behind twice to force a decider before winning the contest 16-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-17, and 15-10.
A sixth defeat in eight games all but dashed Iran’s hopes for a place in the VNL Finals.
Abdel-Aziz contributed a match-high 27 points – including six aces – with Dutch outside hitter Bennie Junior Tuinstra finishing on 20 points.
Amin Esmaeilnejad again topped the scoring for Iran with 21 points, while middle blockers Seyed Mohammad Mousavi and Mohammad Valizadeh chipped in 11 points apiece.
This was a third successive defeat in Rotterdam for Ataei’s men, who came out 3-0 winners against Germany but suffered straight-set losses to reigning world champion Italy and USA in Week 2.
Iran will next head to Anaheim, California, for the third and final week of the preliminary round – starting with a game against Tokyo Olympic gold medalist France on July 4.
Ataei’s side will then take on Bulgaria and Argentina before squaring off against Cuba in the final game in Anaheim.
The Iranian head coach, who led the team to the quarterfinals on his debut at the event last year, will face an even tougher task in Week 3 as he will be without integral opposite Amin Esmaeilnejad, as well as Mohammad-Taher Vadi and Arman Salehi – after the US Embassy in Ankara refused to issue entry visas for the Iranian trio.
However, the controversial decision has been met by criticism from the sport’s international governing body, the FIVB, which said in a statement after a Board of Administration meeting on Saturday that Iran’s final-week results will not affect the team’s spot in the World Rankings – a decisive factor in how the teams will qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Japan flying high
Elsewhere on Saturday, Japan fended off Argentina’s rally from two sets down to beat the South Americans 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 31-33, 22-25, 15-12) in Orléans, France – an eighth successive win for the Asian powerhouse, which finished Week 2 on top of the 16-team table.
USA marched to the victory in straight sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-19) against European giant Poland and moved up to second in the table, while Brazil ended Slovenia’s five-game winning streak, beating this year’s surprise package 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-21).
China defeated Germany 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-21) while France eased past Canada 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-21) – only a third victory for the defending champion.
Top seven of the table will join host Poland in the VNL Finals – starting with the last-eight round on July 19 in Gdansk.