Iran to learn from underestimating World Championships: Hazratpour
Iranian libero Mohammadreza Hazratpour said the national team must learn from underestimating the recently-concluded Men’s Volleyball World Championship after missing out on a historic last-four spot at the sport’s flagship international event in the Philippines.
Iran’s rollercoaster campaign in Pasay City came to an end following a 3-1 loss (22-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-21) to Czechia in the quarterfinals last Thursday.
The Asian powerhouse was stunned by Egypt (3-1) in their Pool A opener, but managed to beat Tunisa in four sets before pulling off a dramatic fightback to edge the host in an epic five-setter to progress to the round of 16.
Iran again had to come from behind twice to defeat Serbia in a thrilling five sets for a place in the quarterfinals.
“We did not have a decent start to the World Championship, and even struggled in the group stage. It was all finished for us against the Philippines, but a net fault by a Filipino player gave us a lifeline from above. We fought our way back into the tournament and ended up facing Serbia. In that match as well, the game turned around at a moment when we were on the verge of losing,” Hazratpour told Varzesh3.
“Overall, I feel we underestimated this tournament. We thought the World Championship would be like the Volleyball Nations League and that we would find it easy against other teams. But all these events became a significant learning experience for our young team. Team Iran was the second-youngest squad in the World Championship, so some struggles were to be expected given the team’s youth.
“I’m sure that the Czechia defeat was a major lesson for us, and it will benefit the team greatly in the coming years. Please see this defeat as a formative experience for our young team, one that will serve us well in the future. Next year, we have to compete in the Asian Championship in Japan, where the winner qualifies for the Olympics. The experience from this World Championship will be a great asset for us in that tournament.”
The tournament in the Philippines was Iran’s second major competition in two months under new Italian head coach Roberto Piazza, following the annual Volleyball Nations League, where the team produced some impressive performances despite failing to advance to the VNL Finals.
Drawing a comparison between the two events, Hazratpour said: “The VNL and the World Championship are completely different competitions. The teams that were at the World Championship performed at a much higher level than in the Nations League. The reason is simple: the World Championship carries more prestige; it’s the second most important tournament in volleyball after the Olympics.”
“I’m not saying that the teams in the Nations League didn’t give their all, but at the World Championship, there were truly no weak teams. The Philippines, Tunisia, and Egypt were all fully prepared, and that’s precisely why powerhouse nations like Brazil, Japan, France, and Cuba were eliminated in the group stage.”
Hazratpour also believes that playing with a whole new system proved costly for the Iranian team.
“It was a system implemented by Mr. Piazza – one we were unfamiliar with and found difficult to execute. However, by the latter stages of the tournament, we were starting to get to used to it,” Hazratpour said, while rejecting the idea of a dip in form in the Iranian team compared to its VNL campaign.
“It had nothing to do with our form. I just think the other teams came into the tournament with a better mindset and were able to perform better.”
Hazratpour was one of Iran’s standout performers at the world event, with the pinnacle of him campaign against Serbia, where he delivered a superb defensive display to play his part in the victory.
“During his five months with the team, Mr. Piazza held numerous sessions with us about coverage, reception, and defensive positioning. It has become a global trend in volleyball. Just look at the final match between Poland and Italy; the defensive coverage ultimately decided the outcome.
“Reception is a cornerstone of Mr. Piazza’s philosophy, something he emphasized to us every single day. He repeatedly told us that one successful dig could completely turn the tide of a match. I personally have understood and internalized these lessons from Piazza, and I am trying to apply them in the domestic league so I can execute them more effectively with the national team.
“Piazza has introduced a new system to our volleyball, and we all must work together to ensure our domestic league also moves toward this system. In a way, Piazza is similar to [former Iran coach] Julio Velasco. He even works with players on the psychological aspect of the game. We must appreciate the value of this coach.
“I will say it again: the World Championship was a major lesson for us. You can be sure we will use this experience to our advantage in future competitions.”