FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship:
Iran routs Canada to extend perfect run
Iranian boys came out victorious against Canada in straight sets (25-20, 25-14, 25-22) on Monday to maintain their perfect start at the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship in Jiangmen, China.
Outside-hitter Ariyan Mahmoudinejad chipped in a game-high 14 points, with middle-blocker Shayan Mehrabi contributing 11 as Iran celebrated a fourth successive win in Pool B.
“Canadian players were physically strong and very tall, which makes them a strong defensive team. That could have been a problem for us if we didn’t have a proper offensive gameplan, but our players did a great job today,” said Iran head coach Gholamreza Mo’menimoqaddam after the game.
“The players targeted the specific areas we had identified through our analysis. They were also exceptional in both defending and serving,” added Mo’menimoqaddam.
The top spot of the group table will be at stake when Iran and Poland go head-to-head at the Jiangmen Sports Center today.
Poland also claimed a fourth win in a row by beating Kazakhstan 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-22) later on Monday.
“Poland is a very tactical side. Their players have had a full year of playing together in the Polish league, so it won’t be an easy game against them at all. We’ll still go out there to fight for victory and progress to the last 16 as the group winner,” said the Iranian, who is on a remarkable 24-game unbeaten run at the helm, during which the country claimed back-to-back Asian under-20 titles either side of the world U21 crown in 2023 in Manama.
Iran began its title defense in Jiangmen with a 3-1 win against Kazakhstan and then eased past Puerto Rico in straight sets, before edging out South Korea in a five-set thriller on Saturday – in a repeat of last year’s Asian under-20 final, which Iran had won in straight sets.
Mo’menimoqaddam, however, is wary of the different caliber of tests awaiting his boys in Jiangmen.
“All the teams here are strong. I’d say at least six teams are fighting for a place on the podium, and that makes things difficult for everyone,” said the Iranian.
“Italy, France, Poland, Ukraine, and Japan have all been exceptional and will fancy their chances of reaching the semifinals.
“From this point on, the matches will only get tougher and more tactical and the team that proves to be physically, tactically, and technically better will ultimately come out on top.”