2012 WORLD LEAGUE title won by poland

 

Poland claimed their first ever World League title following an exhilarating 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-20) win over USA in the final of the 2012 FIVB World League at the Arena Armeec in Sofia, Bulgaria.

In their first ever World League final, last year’s bronze medallists were in devastating form. They dropped only two sets against Brazil before beating the hosts Bulgaria in the semifinals in straight sets and then winning the World League trophy and the $1m prize.

The 2012 World League is Poland’s first international title since the 1976 Olympics, which adds to their 1974 World Championship crown.

For USA, a repeat of 2008 when they won the World League and Olympic titles did not happen this time but the silver medal – which adds to their one gold and two bronze to become the fifth most successful country in the World League behind Brazil (16 medals), Russia (14), Italy (13) and Cuba (9) - was impressive considering the start of their World League campaign when they lost three matches in a row.

Earlier in the day, Cuba beat Bulgaria in a superb five-set thriller 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12) for their first World League medal since a bronze in 2005. It is Cuba’s third World League bronze in total and adds to their one title and five silvers.

For Bulgaria it was their fourth time placing just out of the medals after finishing in a similar vein in 1994, 2004 and 2006.

 

Medals

Year	Finals	1st	2nd	3rd
2012	Sofia, Bulgaria	Poland	U.S.A.	Cuba
2011	Gdansk, Poland	Russia	Brazil	Poland
2010	Cordoba, Argentina	Brazil	Russia	Serbia
2009	Belgrade, Serbia	Brazil	Serbia	Russia
2008	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	U.S.A.	Serbia	Russia
2007	Katowice, Poland	Brazil	Russia	U.S.A.
2006	Moscow, Russia	Brazil	France	Russia
2005	Belgrade, Serbia	Brazil	Serbia & Montenegro	Cuba
2004	Rome, Italy	Brazil	Italy	Serbia & Montenegro
2003	Madrid, Spain	Brazil	Serbia & Montenegro	Italy
2002	Belo Horizonte, Brazil	Russia	Brazil	Yugoslavia
2001	Katowice, Poland	Brazil	Italy	Russia
2000	Rotterdam, Netherlands	Italy	Russia	Brazil
1999	Mar del Plata, Argentina	Italy	Cuba	Brazil
1998	Milan, Italy	Cuba	Russia	Netherlands
1997	Moscow, Russia	Italy	Cuba	Russia
1996	Rotterdam, Netherlands	Netherlands	Italy	Russia
1995	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Italy	Brazil	Cuba
1994	Milan, Italy	Italy	Cuba	Brazil
1993	São Paulo, Brazil	Brazil	Russia	Italy
1992	Genova, Italy	Italy	Cuba	U.S.A.
1991	Milan, Italy	Italy	Cuba	Russia
1990	Osaka, Japan	Italy	Netherlands	Brazil