Japan 🇯🇵 vs. Libya 🇱🇾 - Highlights | Men's World Championships 2025

Japan winless in three, Libya aiming to show the former German the bronze in the 2023 African Championship. Miura gets us underway, Japan in red, Libya in white and the first big swing Ahmed Ikhberi. First contact, they're a team that can give up a lot of errors especially in the serve. That's another great serve, some dig by Mohammed Ikhberi and that's a big swing, Miura just has to push it over, another switch of play, oh what a good block, hit with purpose. Japan not a team, typically no. First serve now for Mohammed, big power serve but it's a lovely pass and it's a beautiful finish from the backcourt to the front and then dispatched. And this may feel like an opportunity for Libya to get a win on the world stage that they haven't had before but this is also a Japan. Another good serve, it's hesitant and this is going to be another free ball, big chance for Japan now. Here comes Miura, nice dig but they got a second chance, Ishikawa. Right, Awadani, two meters tall, middle blocker, swatted away by his opposite number Sato. Down to a fine art. And it's all to do with Ran's first contact right, we we talk about how important that is. Mohammed Algul, middle blocker, float serve. On a plate just where Ishikawa wanted it, thumbs up. Watch this, the blockers have to respect Larry now because he's in the front and the pass is perfect, it's zero. Ran Takahashi goes for the jump float and that's not the pass they needed. Gelwash can't cut through, the block is waiting. Ishikawa one-on-one but a great dig. Miura and here he comes once more and he puts it away, that was very impressive. This is more like Japan. Gelwash on serve, what a great pass and what a good finish in these world championships. Miura, he had to steady himself but even so in mid-flight. Idle, 29-year-old setter, it's all in play at the moment, there aren't too many service errors, that's very close to the net and they're not getting through at the moment. Mohammed Ekbadi, that's a bit better. Japan will fancy their chances of a side out. One, two and three. Off the hands, 25-20. Just knows his starting six and wants them to prove that their belief that they can win this match is still intact but they've got to find a way through this block and their reception's got to improve and that's a bit better. Goes shorter and that's not a good pass again, these first contacts are not helping. Libya but touch three, that's better. The crowd was just around him the whole time now, he loves it. Nearly three million followers on Instagram. Ball hadn't found the floor yet. That's a good serve and a great serve reception by Ishikawa but no way through. New York, stuffed block. He feels it right back. Have such elite skill. Another change, on comes Elush Sultan, middle blocker. Ishikawa is still there, it's a free ball, gone deep. Edo is ready, Majora also ready and still, I thought Japan were going to get away with that. First serve, pass and a delicate roll from Larry at the net. Somehow drank themselves into meaningful contention because they're still four points behind. Doesn't make that one tell and then Miura flies from the backcourt. Too far off and that's exactly what Kubogazi was worrying about. That's a bit more like it. And there's their top scorer but it hasn't got over and that's not gone down either. Wonderful defence, Ishikawa then completes it. He's big, he's strong, very good server as well. And that's somehow, how did he get that over? What a dig by Ishikawa. Has he screwed that through? He's got it across away from the block. Again the first contact has got the setter way out of system. Miura, oh what a great block. The attackers have been smart so far. They do like a backcourt attack. His first serve at the World Championships against Libya and that's coming straight back over and he's done the job, hasn't he? Otsuka comes on, puts pressure on the other side. This service room, we'll be talking about it forever. Eight in a row, eight aces. Not if your name is Kento Miura because that he'll do very nicely. Coaches, Kubogazi of Libya, Laurent Tilly of Japan but at the moment it's very much advantage Japan. The crowd love it. The pocket of Libyan supporters are finding this quite challenging and what about this? What about their players? Because this has been just relentless from Japan. Hadn't won a set in their two matches previously. It's all up for grabs in pool C and F. Here we are in set three. So fast as their coach said. Better serve, better serve reception, better block. They have to remember how good this Japanese team is. It's the same thing when Nedlin was facing Poland and Joel Banks said, hey this is still a world-ranked team guys. If we're not beating them, it's fine. If we're playing all right. Down the line. Libya just trying to hang in here. A little change but it's not working. Al-Wadadi back on to serve. Miura, sense of expectation, anticipation around the arena and that's why beautifully disguised. Bang. Having a volleyball lesson here. It's an ace. Back in Canada but only after the fourth set. 29-27. The crowd aren't complaining because they love Japan. The contest you want to see Mohamed Akbari land one and he does. Just like you want to see his younger brother do so as well. Double-edged sword. Counterproductive isn't it? You've got to go for it but if you do go for it, you risk losing more. That's a good swing but Rantake Ashi somehow gets there. That's brilliant spirit in defense and then Ishikawa puts it away. That's not a good pass. Off the hands but Japan in control once more. Rantake Ashi is used to seeing the camera. Right, was there a fault? No. As we thought, middle blocker goes deep. That is a decisive swing and sets up two aces already and that's looking good. Oh for another and that's how you end it in style. 25-12. The crowd rises as one to acknowledge that performance by Japan.