Having already won the World League and the South American championship, the Brazilian National Team is gearing up for the FIVB Men’s World Grand Champions Cup from November 18-23 in Japan.
Defending champions Brazil come into the World Grand Champions Cup on a high note, having enjoyed great success around the world in 2009. The team qualified for the tournament by winning its 27th South American title by defeating Argentina in the final in Colombia, and recently swept reigning Olympic champions USA in five straight friendly matches in preparation for the Grand Champions Cup.
In the summer, Brazil won an epic five-set encounter with Serbia in Belgrade during the final of the 2009 World League. That gold helped Brazil match Italy as the most successful team at the tournament — both have now won the World league eight times each. Brazil also lays claim to being the most successful team at the World Grand Champions Cup, having medaled in each competition: gold in 1997 and 2005 and silver in 1993 and 2001.
Rodrigao is back in Brazilian national team. "I’m playing well and without pain,” said Rodrigão, who has recovered from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the World League Final Round. “It’s time to get back. This last competition is the most important of the year and will be very difficult. It will be a good test for this new group.”
Superstar Giba will once again be the focal point of the defending Grand Champions Cup winners, and he is expecting a tough battle ahead. "We face strong opponents. We have to be careful with Cuba and Poland, who have a strong Volleyball tradition. But we also have to be wary of the other teams, which are constantly improving. We respect all the teams, but we are heading to Japan to finish the year with gold around our necks,”said Giba.
Brazil are two-time winners of the Grand Champions Cup, having won it in 1997 and 2005. The team faces Cuba on November 18 in its first match before playing Iran a day later, Poland on the 21st, Egypt on the 22nd and Japan on the 23rd.
from FIVB