29/09/2013 20:00
Russian giants add yet another title to their unique showcase
2013 CEV VELUX Volleyball European Championship - Men
Copenhagen, Denmark, September 29, 2013. On Sunday Russia emulated what Serbia had done two years ago with the men’s national team following their countrywomen who had won European gold two weeks ago in Berlin to win the final match of the 2013 CEV VELUX EuroVolley at Parken stadium. After losing their first game in preliminary pool D to Germany, Russia had a clean run all the way to yet another gold medal as they beat Italy 3:1 (25-20, 25-22, 21-25, and 25-17) to follow up on their previous success at the 2012 London Olympics and at this year’s World League Finals. That was also the first title for Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union that had finished first in their last appearance under this denomination back in 1991. With this success, Russia also got the right to represent Europe at the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup scheduled for this coming November in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan.
Click here for a comprehensive gallery of the final weekend at Parken stadium
Though they had won gold at last year’s Olympics in London as well at the 2013 FIVB World League Finals in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Russia was still chasing for their first European title since 1991. Back 22 years ago, the former Soviet Union had won gold beating Italy in the final match but since then the Russian giants had always failed to finish on top of the podium. This time they were supposed to stand the challenge brought by a very young Italian side, whose roster included 8 rookies who were making their debut at the European Championship and only a very few players from the group that had won silver two years ago in Vienna.
Russia got off to a very good start (8:4) and had widened their lead up to five points as Italy mentor Mauro Berruto asked for his first technical time-out (10:5). The Russian machine nevertheless did not stop scoring (14:6) and similarly to what had happened in their semifinal with Bulgaria, Italy was evidently struggling to find their way into the game. This time, however, the task was even more demanding for the “Azzurri” as the reigning Olympic champions were standing on the other side of the net. Ivan Zaytsev, the son of 1980 Olympic gold medalist Vyacheslav (then playing for the Soviet Union), killed a spike from the back row to claim the eighth point for his side, an action that was loudly celebrated by the many fans in attendance at Parken stadium. Still Russia was comfortably leading the way at the second technical time-out (16:8) and apart from their always terrific blocks was showing great skills also in defense. However, it looked like Italy was also gradually finding their best play, especially after two consecutive blocks and an ace by Zaytsev reduced the gap to four points (18:14) to compensate for such disastrous start. It was nevertheless already too late to keep alive the hopes to turn things around and Russia pocketed the opening set at 25-20.
Italy was certainly hoping to prolong their positive trend for they had won each of their last three matches in the tournament coming back from one set down but Russia was once more quick off the blocks also in the second set (3:0). With the audience standing on their feet and the perfect ambiance for the final showdown of the European Championship, Russia claimed a very long and spectacular rally to make it 7:3 and their show continued as they called for the first mandatory stop leading by five points. Italy team captain Cristian Savani – who missed most of the Championship due to a knee injury – replaced Zaytsev in an effort to stabilize the defense line but Muserskiy showed no mercy at all and almost hit Simone Parodi on his face to make it 10:3. Russia’s rhythm was just impossible to stand even for Italy even though the “Azzurri” were playing with glowing hearts (16:10) but ultimately they found their way into the game fighting back with a terrific 7:2 run to re-open the fate of the set as their young opposite Luca Vettori (22) was on fire. The game was briefly stopped – for three minutes – by the score of 19:17 for Russia as a result of a black-out at Parken stadium and once the actions got started again, Vettori finished a very exciting rally to reduce his side’s gap to a minimum (20:19). At 21:19 everything was set for a very exciting final rush; Muserskiy stopped Simone Parodi for the 23:20 but Emanuele Birarelli responded in a similar fashion to keep Italy’s hopes alive. Another block by Muserskiy prompted three set balls for Russia with the second cashed at 25-22.
After a very close race up to 5 all, Italy got a small break going up 11:8 with the audience going just crazy as all fans wanted to enjoy more world-class Volleyball and did not seem to agree with the scenario of a straight win for Russia. Nikolay Apalikov restored the balance for Russia at 15 all but Savani scored the next rally to call for the second technical time-out with Italy taking over the lead though only by the slimmest margin of all. Taken by the hand by their rising star Luca Vettori who kept on scoring mercilessly, Italy left the door open for a fourth set (23:20) and even forced Russia’s mentor Andrey Voronkov into a time-out. Thomas Beretta piled up three set balls for Italy, the first was gone after an error by Savani, but Italy kept alive their dreams of glory as Dmitriy Ilinykh served long (25-21).
Italy looked regenerated by this win and was able to stand Russia’s pressure also in the early phases of the fourth set before the 2012 Olympic champions got a small lead (8:6) by the time the first mandatory stop was called. As the game resumed, Russia showed their superior class with the always outstanding libero Alexey Verbov and the great spikes killed by Nikolay Pavlov and muscle-bound Evgeny Sivozhelez (11:7). Muserskiy was also doing a great job at the net and halfway through the fourth set it looked like Russia was going to cash yet another gold medal to follow up on those claimed at the London Olympics and this year’s World League Finals (15:10). Though Italy mentor Mauro Berruto attempted a late surge by replacing Vettori with Zaytsev – who was by this moment of the game playing as opposite after starting as wing-spiker – Russia continued to score point after point (22:14) helped also by a series of mistakes made by the “Azzurri”. The end of a memorable Championship co-hosted by Denmark and Poland was almost there and the last point was sealed by Nikolay Pavlov (25-17).
Mauro Berruto, head coach of Italy: “We had two good teams in action today but when Russia plays like that they are very difficult to control and they started the match in a very impressive way with their serves and blocks. When Russia plays like that they are the best team in the world. They had a small moment where they gave us an opportunity and we got it in the set that we won, but we must say that they deserved the win and we have to understand where the most important difference is so that we can try to fill it. We are very proud and this is the fourth medal I win but still we have to try to get the color that we wish for.”
Russian libero Aexey Verbov: “It’s an unbelievable feeling and we are just happy, having fun and enjoying it. It is very difficult to go to this level and we gave everything for this medal. We don’t sleep, we don’t eat and we work hard. The last four months we have all been together and worked very hard and I’m so lucky that we have come to this level. We are just happy that we did it. We were very nervous because everyone expected this medal from us and today I think we beat Russia not Italy today, but ourselves today. After we lost to Germany we have been through six very difficult matches and step by step we did it, every ball and every match is hard. For three months I have not eaten junk food to be in my maximum condition, so now I just want to eat everything and I will go to McDonald's tomorrow!”
2013 CEV VELUX EuroVolley – Final standing
1. Russia #*
2. Italy #*
3. Serbia *
4. Bulgaria *
5. France *
6. Germany *
7. Belgium *
8. Finland
9. Poland
10. Netherlands
11. Slovakia
12. Denmark
13. Slovenia
14. Turkey
15. Belarus
16. Czech Republic
#* Qualified for 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Championships and for final round of 2015 CEV Volleyball European Championship - Men in Bulgaria/Italy
* Qualified for final round of 2015 CEV Volleyball European Championship - Men in Bulgaria/Italy
Individual Awards
MVP: Dmitriy Muserskiy (RUS)
Best Scorer: Aleksandar Atanasijevic (SRB)
Best Spiker: Luca Vettori (ITA)
Best Blocker: Srecko Lisinac (SRB)
Best Server: Ivan Zaytsev (ITA)
Best Receiver: Todor Aleksiev (BUL)
Best Setter: Sergey Grankin (RUS)
Best libero: Alexey Verbov (RUS)
Fair Play Award: Nikola Jovovic (SRB)
Click here for more info including detailed stats of the match
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