Iran U19 beats Brazil in volleyball friendly
Iran’s under-19 volleyball team came out on top against Brazil in four sets in a friendly game on Thursday.
Preparing for the upcoming FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship in San Juan, Argentina, Mohammad Vakili’s side won the first set 25-21 before the host tied the game at 1-1, thanks to a 30-28 win in a thrilling second set in front of a jam-packed crowd in Santa Rita do Sapucaí.
The Asian champion still managed to walk away with a 3-1 victory, taking the final two sets 25-17 and 25-19.
Mani Alikhani, Seyyed Matin Hosseini, Taha Behboudnia, Armin Qelich-Niazi, Mohammadreza Alejalil, Omran Kukjeili, and Morteza Tabatabaei (libero) were in the Iranian starting lineup.
“We are here to bolster the team’s confidence [ahead of the World Championship],” Vakili said after the game as he welcomed the test of playing against the home side’s cheering fans.
“The pressure of the crowd was overwhelming, and Brazil caused us problems in reception with powerful and risky serves in the second set, though we were the superior team in all aspects of the game in the third and fourth sets,” added the Iranian head coach, whose team will be chasing a third world title – first since 2017 – in Santa Rita.
A bronze medalist in the event two years ago on home soil, Iran will begin its campaign with a game against fellow Asian side South Korea on August 2 in Pool C – also featuring Nigeria, Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The host country – also the reigning South American champion – will headline Pool A, with the United States, Egypt, Serbia, and Costa Rica also in the group.
Bulgaria – beaten by Poland in the 2021 final – is in Pool B alongside India, Japan, France, and Slovenia, while Pool D will see European champion Italy and Brazil as well as Belgium, Mexico, and Chile battle it out for a place in the knockout phase.
The top four teams of each pool will progress to the last-16 round.
Having won a maiden trophy in 2007, Iran is also a two-time silver winner in the under-19 championship in 2001 and 2009, while settling for the bronze medal on three occasions (2003, 2015, and 2017).