Italy make last four stage

HAMAMATSU, Nov 26: Holders Italy beat the Dutch Olympic champions 15-2, 15-7, 15-1 to reach the medal round of the men's World Volleyball Ch...

HAMAMATSU, Nov 26: Holders Italy beat the Dutch Olympic champions 15-2, 15-7, 15-1 to reach the medal round of the men’s World Volleyball Championship today. Cuba made sure of a place in the last four, alongside Group winners Yugoslavia and Brazil, by overcoming Argentina 15-12 15-4 15-12 in Osaka.

While Italy needed to win, only pride was at stake for the Dutch, whose hopes disappeared with defeats by Yugoslavia and Russia on Tuesday.

Italy will now play unbeaten Brazil in the semifinals in Tokyo on Saturday while Yugoslavia face Cuba. Russia came back from a set down to hand Yugoslavia their first defeat, by 3-15, 15-13, 15-5, 15-11, and took temporary control of the playoff spot.

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Yugoslavia, back in the championship for the first time since 1970, came into the contest needing to win just one set to finish top of their group.

Once that was accomplished, coach Zoran Gajic rested his six starters, making Russia’s task considerably easier. Cuba started slowly against Argentina and allowed the SouthAmericans to go 12-10 ahead in the opening set.

But with a place in the medal round riding on the outcome, the World League Champions dug in to sweep the next five points to go one set up then raced through the second, dropping just four points along the way.

With Cuba having already secured the other semifinal spot, an uninspired Spain fell to Brazil 15-4 13-15 15-5 15-9. The victory left the Brazilians as the only unbeaten team with an overall record of 10-0, the 1992 Olympic champions surrendering just three sets.

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