Iran secures 6th place in FIVB

TEHRAN, Sep. 21 (MNA) – In a heated battle for claiming fifth-place, Iran has been beaten by Russia in three straight sets and claimed sixth place at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship at the Atlas Arena on Saturday. Iran’s men volleyball team performed brilliantly in the 18th World Men’s Volleyball Championship to be qualified for the first time in history among the top six teams in this tournament. In today’s game against Russia, however, Iran was defeated in three sets 19-25, 21-25, 18-25, respectively. Iran’s men volleyball team had managed to beat Italy 3-2, the US 3-2, beat by France 3-1 and gain victory over Belgium 3-1 and entered the second round of competitions as the second team of group D after France. In the second round of competitions, Slobodan Kovač’s men had crushed Australia 3-1, then gained victory over Argentina by winning three straight sets. Then the team was beat by Poland 3-2 but managed to win against Serbia in yet another crushing victory. Iran with 15 points, and after France and Poland with 17 and 16 points respectively, entered the third round of competitions for the first time in history. During this round, Germany beat Iran 3-0 and France beat Iran 3-2, therefore causing Iran to fail to qualify for the semi-final round. Iran’s men volleyball team played at the same level with the best teams as revealed by their fourth place finish that they achieved at the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup in 2013 and the World League in 2014. Now, they have secured sixth place at the World Championships. “We are making big progress,” Kovac continued. “We played in the World League Finals, and now we are among the best six. It wasn’t so obvious before the start of the Championship as we were grouped with USA, France, Belgium, Italy and Puerto Rico. Not only did we advance to the second round, but also to the third round and I think it’s fantastic. If we believe more in ourselves we have a chance to be better in the future.” Tonight, Germany will compete against Poland and France against Brazil in the semi-final round of the 18th World Men’s Volleyball Championship 2014.