Brazil storm into semi-finals with win over Germany
Fabiana Claudino and Walewska Oliveira celebrate for Brazil
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German coach Giovanni Guidetti had called for a return to basics but it was Brazil who did the simple things well in their 3-0 Pool F victory in Osaka on Saturday that confirmed their place in the semi-finals.
Brazil took their unbeaten streak in the FIVB Volleyball World Championship for Women to eight matches with their 25-16, 25-22, 25-15 win.
They now face a crunch showdown with another unbeaten team, Russia, in their final group match on Sunday to decide the pool winners.
Germany have brought much raw passion and enthusiasm to the competition, the highlight being their victory over China in Pool B in Sapporo last week.
Guidetti wanted a repeat of that bravado against Brazil. But in terms of sheer skill and physical presence, they were no match for the Brazilians, who unleashed their battery of big spikers against the overwhelmed Germans.
Germany now have a 3-3 record in Pool F following defeat to the Netherlands and victory over Puerto Rico, adding to their two victories from Pool B in Sapporo. Brazil's record, minus two games from Pool B in Kobe, is 6-0.
Brazil started off as the more composed team with consistency in attack, helping them take an 8-6 first time-out lead.
The Brazilians' intensity forced the Germans into a number of defensive and blocking errors while the Europeans' attack also lacked bite.
Brazil moved into an 12-6 lead after leading German spikes Angelina Grun and Birgit Thumm sent their efforts long.
Grun finally hit one to make it 12-7 in Brazil's favour but the South Americans managed to take the score to 15-9 before the Germans staged a mini-fightback to make it 16-12 by the second time out.
With the decked-out Brazilian fans dominating the noise in the stadium, the giant Walewska Oliveira made a clean block on set point to seal the set for her team.
Sheila Castro, with five spikes, and the statuesque Jaqueline Carvalho, with four were Brazil's main points-scorers in the first set.
Germany could have gone 3-0 in the second set but three straight service errors kept the game even, with Brazil going 6-4 up before Germany coach Giovanni Guidetti called for time out.
Brazil started to impose their superiority as the set wore on. Germany were getting rattled, apparent from libero Kerstin Tzscherlich's error on a Brazil serve that gave the South Americans an 11-6 lead.
Though the Germans tightened up their defence, Brazil went into the second time out with a 16-12 advantage and, at this stage, looked good for a 2-0 lead.
Germany had other ideas, clawing back to tie it at 19-19. Carvalho's booming spike made it 20-19 for Brazil but Margareta Kozuch replied for the Germans with a delicate lob.
However, Brazil pulled away to win the set 25-22 with Welissa Gonzaga becoming more influential in attack alongside Carvalho and Fabiana Claudino.
Germany edged ahead 4-3 in the third set but brilliants plays from Gonzaga and Claudino allowed Brazil to move into an 8-4 lead.
Brazil's power and height were just too much for the Germans, who fell behind 11-16 at the second time out.
It was left to substitute Paula Pequeno to win the match for Brazil with her powerful spike from the left.
