Women Volleybox
Beach Volleybox
- Did you expect such quick victory?
Andrea Anastasi: To be honest, no. I expected the match against Cuba will be more difficult. The same players won Norceca Championships, fighting in final against USA. In Pan American Games they have lost only against Brazil. Today we won and for me it is important to start the tournament good. I was a bit afraid before the match, because during the last practise my players didn't show their best. Perhaps they focused on this victory so much, that they couldn't train normally. But when it came to match they have played smart, with no many errors, especially on serve, so I am satisfied with our game and score.
- First match won. What about pressure now? Is it smaller?
We are calm. World Cup is a long tournament and we can't waste our energy on things that we can't control. We are going to focus now on match against Serbia. I have heard about their poorly game against Argentina, but I don't want to look at them like that. I want to prepare my team for match against Serbia, which I saw in Vienna on European Championships. We are playing at 3:00pm which is perfect for us, because after we have time to prepare tactic for next match and get some rest.
- How is Kurek now? Is he feels better?
Situation is the same like when I said at the beginning, when we arrived to Japan. I don't want to use him and hopefully it it's possible he won't play for next 2-3 games. Now he will have session with physiotherapist because of his arm and he will back to good disposition soon. This guy is tired and we all know that. If I would let him play all the time here, that would be not good for him and for team in the second half of the tournament. Luckily, we have good players on his position, Winiarski played very well today, so for now Kurek can stay on the bench.
- I have to ask about Kubiak, as yesterday heart of probably every fan in Poland stopped when we found out he is injured.
Kubiak is incredible. Yesterday his finger protruded an angle of 90 degrees, doctor set the finger straight away and put some plaster. I asked what happened and Kubiak just answered 'Nothing, coach, everything is fine, perfect and there is no problem.' Today he played and that's the most important, but yesterday when that happened I just thought "Oh my God!".
I'm not surprised polish fans were worried too. In the first set he has had some problems in attack, but later used his skills and technique to help the team.
- Shortly after arriving to Japan, Ivan Miljkovic during press conference said, that formula of this World Cup is catastrophic and he is not surprised that players from their women's national team have had some injuries during the tournament. We know situation of Kurek, Kubiak can play, but still are you afraid about players?
Of course, I am afraid. Maybe other coach would leave Kurek in the country. We are here also without Kosok and I really count on this player, he is important in my team. Kubiak is here, but after european Championships he spent whole week in the hospital. I have to hope, that those players I have here with me can handle this tragedy, because this is a tragedy, not a tournament (laugh).
- I noticed good atmosphere in the team. They motivate each other not only on court, but also from the bench. I heard even you are trying to shout something in Polish. How lessons of our language are going?
With your language is hard, of course I caught few words, but for sure I'm not giving them tactic tips in polish. It's quite a weird situation, because six from seven titular players speak Italian fluent. At the beginning of my work with this team I decided that we gonna speak in English, but then your players speak in your language, it's not hard to forget about your decision. And sometimes when I give some tips in Italian I notice that Nowakowski look at me confused, so I ask him "Piter, you don't understand?" and he say "No", so I have to come back to English.
I think we came to Japan in very good mood. Guys listen before match strong music, rock music, to motivate themselves and I am happy when it helps, because I want to see them like that whole tournament.
Interview from www.blokaut.net.
[except for Kaziyki, after the NT he usual got 1 holyday week]
Dante is my favorite Brazilian player as well - great personality and skills in one, powerful player AND smart!