The U.S. Men’s National Team’s quest for gold at the FIVB World Championship ended Sunday with a 3-2 loss to Argentina. The defeat ended Team USA’s three-match win streak in the second round of the tournament, with the U.S. defeating host country Poland, Serbia, and Australia. However, the team’s 3-1 record placed it fourth in Pool E, and only the top three teams in each pool move on to the third round.
Argentina’s victory, although not enough to keep them from being eliminated, was the first time since 1990 that it had defeated the U.S. Poland, Iran, and France move on to the third round from Pool E and will face Brazil, Russia, and Germany from Pool F, with each team fighting for the chance to make the final round, Sept. 20-21.
Team USA head coach John Speraw admitted in a press conference following the loss to Argentina that he had expected the tournament to go better for his team, which was coming off a big win at World League a little over a month before.
(Photo cred: USA Volleyball)