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Japan have to get three points against Germany

Japan were shocked by Croatia yesterday. The third round is under a big question mark now, and only winning this game will leave them in the game. Germany have lost their chances with yesterday's defeat against China

After yesterday's defeat in three sets against China, the Germans can slowly start packing to head home. Only the three game theory until the second rounds keeps them in game in order to continue the competition. That's pretty disappointing because the expectations were much higher. Still, the performances which Germany has been displaying in Italy shows no optimism. Yesterday they even played most of the match against China well, but that wasn't enough for two tightly lost sets.

- We tried our best today; we fought, but China are a very good team. It's the best one we've faced in the championship so far. Our attack was better than before, and we also improved our block and defense since our last meetings, but that wasn't enough. China was too strong for us. In the next three matches we want to fix that, and if we do we can still reach three victories - concludes the German selector Guidetti after the defeat against China.


Today's match against Japan will show us whether Germany can continue to improve their game. Yesterday the Germans have significantly lowered the number of their errors, compared to the first round. It's interesting that they've recorded no aces so far. That is, next to the defense, Germany's greatest benefit; today they're up against an opponent who expect to use the same benefits. This year Germany easily beat Japan at the Montreux Masters, but it was the B team they were up against. The last direct duel of the A selections was played last years at the Grand Prix, and Japan won in the fifth set, after Germany won the first two.


Unlike Germany, Japan still have a chance to get through to the third round. Those chances, however, were vastly lowered with yesterday's defeat in five sets against Croatia. In the final three matches Japan need three victories, but even that doesn't guarantee that they will manage to continue the competition. Yesterday the Croatian team shocked them; it was a meeting in which Japan was counting on three points.


- I congratulate Croatia. They were really good in the defense and the offense; we made too many errors and lost because of that - concluded Japan's coach Manabe after yesterday's defeat.


Croatia's blocking and attacking brought Japan down. They were more calm at crucial moments. They neutralized Japan's serve which wasn't so dangerous in the first place. Ebata, with 22 won points, couldn't face the Croats alone yesterday. She needed the help of her co-players which wasn't there. Japan's game wasn't special; they're obviously missing Sano, the libero who's not in Italy. In the end, Japan yesterday played a game which lasted for almost two and a half hours, and surely their physical and psychological state will have an influence on how they appear today.


- I'm really sorry we lost this match. Croatia's game was excellent, especially in the defense and offense - dissapointed was Japan's captain Kimura Saori.