The knockout calendar is no longer theory. In a week Ningbo opens the men’s Nations League quarterfinals — and day one offers two different dramas: Turkey’s Finals debut and China’s home exam.
July 29, 15:00 and 19:30
Slovenia vs Turkey pits Finals experience against a first-time ticket. The late match: Japan–China. Japan finished the prelims 12-0; China are in as hosts. An 8,000-seat Beilun can break any paper seeding.
What staffs are doing
Rotations are being trimmed after a three-week grind, setters are being managed, video is rolling. For fans it is a quiet week. For scouts it is the loudest: day-one results decide who lands in the Italy/USA half.
