Rio 2016 men's volleyball tournament to start with a bang as schedule sets up classic showdowns
Grudge matches between Brazil and France, Poland and Russia and the USA and Italy will take place in the group stages of the competition
Russia defeated Brazil in an amazing final at London 2012 to win the gold medal (Photo: Getty Images/Elsa)
An intense all-European showdown will open the Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s volleyball tournament, with World League champions and form side France meeting world no.4 Italy in the very first match.
The international volleyball federation (FIVB) released the schedule for the competition on Wednesday (15 June).
The 12 teams to qualify for Rio 2016 have been divided into two groups of six. With world no.1 Brazil and world no.3 Russia drawn in different pools, fans will have to wait until the knockout stages to see a repeat of the London 2012 Olympic final, when Russia came back from two sets down to win gold.
Hosts Brazil will be desperate to find redemption for that day on home soil. After failing at the final hurdle at both London and Beijing 2008, it is now nearly 12 years since they last tasted Olympic gold at Athens 2004.
In their first match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (7 August), Brazil will face Mexico, who will be competing for the first time since 1968. Also on the first day, defending Olympic champions Russia will take on Cuba in the other pool before Argentina and Iran – also making their Olympic debut – round out the action.
Check out the volleyball world rankings
Groups drawn for men's volleyball
Women's volleyball schedule: USA v China among highlights of Rio 2016 pool stage
During the group stages of the competition, there will be two London 2012 quarter-final re-runs, with world no.2 Poland and world no.5 USA aiming for revenge over Russia and Italy respectively.
The Americans may not want a repeat of their quarter-final loss to Italy in London, but will certainly hope to replicate their pool result against Brazil four years ago. The USA were the only side to beat Brazil at London 2012 before that dramatic final loss to Russia, recording a 3-1 win in the group stages. Brazil and the USA will face off on 11 August.
Russell Holmes of the USA said on his Instagram that he was already in the Olympic mood.
In an enticing match-up on the penultimate day of the group stages on 13 August, the home side will then meet Italy, whom they beat in the London 2012 semi-finals. Italy went on to win bronze in London.
The group stage of the tournament will wrap up with what promises to be a classic encounter between Brazil and France on 15 August. In an epic match at the world championship in 2014, the French – currently one of the form sides in the world – were downed in five incredible sets by Brazil.
The top four sides from each pool will progress to the elimination round, starting with the quarter-finals.
Brazil beat France in a memorable match in 2014 and will be facing them again on 15 August (Photo: FIVB)
French volleyball star Earvin N'Gapeth tweeted after the schedule was released that he had no plans to return from Rio without one of the Olympic medals that were unveiled on Tuesday.
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s volleyball tournament runs from August 7 until August 21. All matches will take place at the Maracanãzinho stadium.
Check out the group-stage schedule below. Tickets are sold per session and each session features two matches. The second match is scheduled to start two hours and five minutes after the first match.
