Olympic skylight
We look at the application of the Russian national team for the League of Nations and see, how the application for the Olympics shines through it. Now on the shortlist 15 surnames plus injured Ivan Yakovlev, will go to Tokyo 12 people - the IOC in every possible way limits the number of Olympians, they do not fit into the framework of the most prestigious competition on the planet.
So compromises are inevitable. Thank God, we have Dmitry Musersky, equally quietly covering as the center of the net, and the position of the diagonal. That is, four side gamers will go to Tokyo - and three indisputable, in my opinion, figures, Kluck, Volkov and Podlesnykh, either Bogdan will join, or Semyshev. All other things being equal, Semyshev is younger and more promising, and here for him at least continuity and the need to temper at the highest level.
Igor Kobzar is an iron candidate for the Olympics. Pavel Pankov in the League of Nations will have a chance to prove, that the club season can be dragged to the national team level, well, or experienced Alexander Butko. A mystery to me, why was not Sergei Grankin even on the extended list, in optimal physical condition, he could sing a good swan song in Tokyo at his third Olympics (and it could be four). by the way, from the previous two Grankin returned with medals, including the gold of London.
Well, and then - the game of "extra third" between the diagonal, central blockers and liberos. There are three centers and one of them is Musersky, which the, if anything, will support the only diagonal, which is Maxim Mikhailov. Viktor Poletaev does not look so irreplaceable today, to give up such a safety net with castling. Volvich, Vlasov, Kurkaev, Yakovlev (if it gets in shape), Rams, Golubev apply for four remaining vacancies in two roles.
Least obvious is Golubev, but it's obvious, what a pair of liberos is needed. Taking one Baranov is simply risky. clear, why is there no Melkozerov, experience is needed at the Olympics and this is exactly Golubev. Choosing from two debutants, Sammelvuo made the obvious. so, two central positions remain. I think, Artem Volvich can slowly gather in Tokyo, and he will be paired ... here is the real intrigue. With a healthy Yakovlev, Ilyas Kurkaev has the least chances - simply because, that he and Ivan are similar in model. Well, of course, it's time to go to the highest level for Ilya Vlasov - here a lot will depend on, how will he conduct the League of Nations.
here you go, the picture is almost complete. Kobzar, Pankow (Butko), Mikhailov, Musersky, Volvich, Yakovlev (Vlasov), The gossip, Volkov, The forest, Semyshev (Bogdan), Rams, Golubev. I cannot fail to note the presence of two graduates of Gazprom-Yugra in the national team, and with Volvich - three Ugra residents in Olympic Tokyo. The last word, of course, for Sammelvuo, but the alignment is in any case, what we have supplied and continue to supply frames to the very top of the volleyball pyramid, not just to the national team, and the Olympic team. To the team, medal claimant. Above, as they say, only stars, до которых воспитанники нашей «Звезды Югры» обязательно когда-нибудь доберутся.