Tokyo, Japan, December 3, 2006: Brazil have done it again.
The 2002 world champions defended their crown in Tokyo on Sunday night with an awesome display of power and precision to brush aside Poland.
The Brazilians won 25-12, 25-22, 25-17 and had their fans dancing in the aisles of Yoyogi National Stadium's No. 1 Gymnasium long before the victory was complete.
The eighth-ranked Poles had dazzled throughout the tournament, but found World No. 1 Brazil too strong in all departments and never looked like winning their second world crown and first since 1974. There was a fantastic atmosphere as the players entered the arena. Both teams enjoyed massive support, with the red and white of Poland against the canary yellow and green of Brazil.
The drums of the Brazilian supporters and chants of the Poles created a mesmerising backdrop as the teams warmed up, providing a tasty appetiser for the volleyball feast about to be served up.
The yellow pockets of fans danced to the samba beat and sang"Bra-sil", while the red and white sections replied with hearty cries of "Pol-ska", forcing the thousands of neutrals to take their pick.
The starting players left the bench and came on to the court one by one, each of them throwing a souvenir World Championships volleyball into the crowd. Some of the Brazilians could not help displaying their country`s proud football history and kicked the mini-volleyballs high into the stands.
The defending world champions made a wonderful start, forcing breathless Poland to call a TO down 5-1.
The Polish supporters tried to lift their team in the deafening atmosphere, but the Brazilians were flying, 8-2 at the first TTO.
Sebastian Swiderski spiked long, and Gustavo Endres earned a demented hug from a fired-up Giba after some magnificent defence had enabled the captain to spike savagely from the left for 10-2.
Poland needed some points from their wing spikers, and Mariusz Wlazly got one through from the left, but when Andre Heller swatted a crisp winner at the net for 13-5, Poland called their second TO.
There was no escape from the onslaught, though. Andre struck again from the right, then fired a serve that Swiderski could not control. When Wlazly served long, Brazil were nine clear at the second TTO, 16-7.
The Brazilians were bristling with confidence and ideas, and playing at a pace the Poles could not live with. When Andre tipped one over into a massive space, Polish centre Daniel Plinski turned and yelled at his shellshocked teammates in a bid to spark some fire.
There was no way back, and Brazil won the first set 25-12 on their second set point after a long delay over a change in libero, Michal Bakiewicz for the injured Piotr Gacek. The Brazilian players and fans were furious over the delay, as head coach Raul Lozano argued with the control desk with the scoreboard showing 24-12.
The Poles had scored only six of those points, including three for Wlazly, while Brazil had made six errors.
The second set was a different story, and Poland began to play as they have been throughout the tournament. Their blocking improved and their confidence grew, and they led 8-7 at the first TTO, but not before Dante had smashed a glorious winner from the left after Andre had been blocked on the opposite wing.
An overhead set from Zagumny enabled Wlazly to spike cleanly down the right, and a Zagumny block on Dante pushed them two ahead 11-9. Swiderski added another point with a trademark attack from the back court, but both Gustavo Endres and Andre Heller replied at the net, before Giba's cracker made it 13-13. Wlazly was finding his stride, and Poland led 16-15 at the second technical break.
Poland held a two-point advantage at 20-18, but an Andre Heller block on Plinski made it 20-20 and forced Poland into a TO.
The left-hander Andre battered Brazil to set point at 24-22, past captain Piotr Gruszka, who had just replaced Swiderski, and Brazil took it at the first opportunity after great defence and a gentle push from Dante at the net.
A thundering block by Andre Heller on Swiderski was the feature of the early stages of the third set, but the Polish ace quickly recovered to spike cleanly from the left. Poland were under too much pressure, and centre Kadziewicz spiked wide to give Brazil a two-point cushion at the first TTO. On the resumption, Wlazly was long from the right, and Andre Heller thumped another razor-sharp winner at the net for 11-7.
The points were flying from Brazil's smooth and dynamic combinations, whereas the Poles were having to work overtime to stay in touch. Dante thrashed another point for 13-9, and Poland left for a TO looking puzzled by the fury of the well-oiled canary yellow and green machine.
Leading 16-10 at the second TTO, Brazil were close to victory. Gustavo Endres scored two consecutive block points, then drove in another at the net, Giba flicked home a wristy winner on the left and Poland were demoralised at 21-11.
Dante soared from the back court for 23-16, Giba followed for match point at 24-16, and Andre Heller finished it close in for 25-17.
