Planet is not Europe: why defeat of Zenit is for better of Russian volleyball

Attempt No. 5

The title of the club world champion remains the only trophy that Zenit did not win during its short history. The Kazan players are eight-time champions of Russia, five-time winners of the Russian Cup and Supercup. They also have four victories in the Champions League. However, the title of the world champion among the clubs has not been included in the list of achievements of the Kazan super club.

Zenit played in four competitions of the Club World Championship. Last year's second place was the best result. Then Zenit lost against Sada Cruzeiro 1:3. The Kazan players also have two bronze medals under their belt that they won in 2009 and 2011. It seems the title of the club world champion was bewitched for Kazan.

Three games, one victory, zero cup

The game history of Kazan and Sada Cruzeiro before the final is not rich – just three. However, they all were hot. Curiously, they all ended 3-1. Zenit has one victory, Cruzeiro – two.

Last year the teams met twice – at the group stage and in the final of the Club World Championship like this time. At that moment the Kazan players won the first match. The Brazilians defeated Alekno's players in the final and won the title. This time the match of the group stage ended with Cruzeiro's win, so, logically, Zenit was to win the final.

Last year the teams met twice – at the group stage and in the final of the Club World Championship. Photo: (zenit-kazan.com)

Previous years' games were always even despite the score. In the first match, Cruzeiro had problems with outside hitting and reception that considerably complicated their task. But Zenit got that problems in the final. Plus, it had mistakes in block and serve. This Club World Championship has demonstrated the Brazilians corrected their mistakes, while it turns out that the Kazan players did not.

Misfortune and Brazilians

The beginning of the Sunday's final was even, as a fight between the two strongest clubs of the planet should be. Yes, because Zenit is a European hegemon. Results of the Champions League prove it. Meanwhile, Cruzeiro is remarkable in other parts of the world. In the first set, the team tried to rush but their rival did not let it. At one point the hosts of the competition started to go ahead. It happened mainly due to Butko and Mikhailov's successful mistakes in serve. Yes, Sada Cruzeiro defeated the Kazan block because of its high pace. 25-21 was the result of the first set.

The Kazan players took the lead in the second set and made Cruzeiro make many mistakes. But after a time out, the Brazilians rose from the ashes and held the lead. It is unclear what happened to the team. Zenit started to make mistakes more often, even in basic things, which is not a characteristic of a big club, and Zenit it is. This set ended 25-23 in favour of the Brazilians.

Of course, the Cruzeiro players are keen on arguing with the referee for a reason and without it. Such tactics yield results at times, but it did not look decent.

Zenit continued doing its job trying to change the course of the game, which was not very successful by the beginning of the third set. But problems with serve (despite rare aces) and block did not disappear – Zenit's good episodes changed for mistakes. Anyway, the coaching staff of the Kazan players did not manage to find recipes for a solution of the problems that arose a year ago.

At one moment the Kazan players just fell down – Simon and Leal were destroying Zenit, and Alekno's players did not have a decent answer. It seemed their attack started to work, block bettered, but their own mistakes and Cruzeiro's clear game mixed Zenit's all cards. 25-15, 3-0. The score corresponds to neither the class nor the game. Cruzeiro's deserved the victory.

3-0. The score corresponds to neither the class nor the game. Cruzeiro's deserved the victory. Photo: Roman Kruchinin (zenit-kazan.com)

Room for growth

Of course, this match also illustrates the level of Russian and European football. Even though Zenit-Kazan is a top club and it wins against Ural and Trentino, such matches against Sada Cruzeiro show that Alekno's guys have things to learn in order to reach volleyball perfection. It is also obvious that Zenit doesn't benefit from the relatively low level of the domestic championship.

In fact, in Russia, Zenit has two good rivals that have not shown a due opposition. Most matches of Zenit in the regular championship look like open training or exhibition performances for fans and opponent teams. The Kazan players lose if they create problems from nothing, once per season on average. In other words, Zenit rarely has to do its best.

While Zenit is winning titles in the Champions League, the situation is not too bad. But something needs to be changed. In volleyball Russia in general. Our country needs to have a competitive league. Only then the level of volleyball in Russia will start growing. Then Zenit will join Belogorie as the club world champion. But there is good news for the Kazan super club. The team's museum doesn't have all possible trophies. It means there is a sense in existing.