The Argentine volleyball team lost to Japan and was left in a very difficult position at the Olympic Games :: Olé

31/07/2024 09:58hs.

A knockout punch. A blow that can be difficult to recover from. Argentine volleyball team changed his face in his second participation in the Paris Olympicsbut he couldn’t handle it Japan. Although in various passages he showed the credentials of that team that made him one of the eight finalists of the VNL Final 8, he failed at key moments, suffered a transcendental error by the refereeing body that took him out of the game and ended up losing by 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23) in his second participation in Group C.

The script of the match was very clear. The VNL champion’s start was overwhelming: with seven service points and an unstoppable Nishida, he took advantage of the complicated national reception and won the first set by 25-16. Those directed by Marcelo Méndez could not rotate and suffered constant errors in attack.

Facundo Conte in action. (REUTER)

From the second set onwards, the trend changed: Argentina was more determined to hit the net, Luciano De Cecco found Bruno Lima more and Jan Martínez adjusted his reception. If the basic equation of volleyball works (serve, reception, set, attack and block), the situation changes. Thus, the National Team had taken a 16-9 lead and seemed to have everything under control. But the Japanese defence returned, the Argentines suffered a setback, received a red card (after an intense protest for a controversial point that the referee did not give them) and finally lost 25-22.

However, Argentina did not give up and went for the epic. In that aspect, Méndez’s team played the best set in the entire tournament, they showed no flaws, they managed to vent their anger about what happened in the second set and they scored. It was a resounding 25-18 to dream of a comeback. Despite that, Japan returned to its best level from the middle of the fourth set and closed it in its favor with a good series of blocks.

Luciano Palonsky fighting for the ball against Japan. (REUTER)

How is Argentina’s participation in the Olympic Games going?

The team will close its participation in group C against Germany, this Friday from 4 (Argentine time). The match can be seen live on TV screens TyC Sports y Public TV.

Marcelo Méndez’s team will play all out against Germany this Friday. (REUTER)