03/09/2017 17:31
Russia and Germany’s route to the #EuroVolleyM grand finale
2017 CEV Volleyball European Championship - Men
Krakow, Poland, September 3, 2017. Russia and Germany will play for gold later tonight at TAURON Arena in Krakow – and if Russia are vying for their 14th European title counting also those won by the former Soviet Union, Germany have already made history by securing their first ever #EuroVolleyM medal in history.
The way these teams qualified to the final act of this year’s European Championship could not have been any different – at least when it comes to the semis. On Saturday, Russia thrashed Belgium in three quick sets to keep their perfect record in the competition – as they have not dropped a single set since they started their campaign in Pool C. Russia easily dispatched Bulgaria, Slovenia and Spain in the pool stage of the tournament. They did just the same when playing Slovenia again in the quarterfinals before routing Belgium’s Red Dragons in the semis.
Russia are hoping to repeat their gold medal performance from Copenhagen 2013 – the last time they contested the gold medal match – and to add another title to the most impressive tally in European Volleyball history.
As for Germany, the men coached by Italian Volleyball legend Andrea Giani swept three matches in their pool in Szczecin – with victories over Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovakia – before edging the Czechs again in a match where a spot in the semis was at stake. On Saturday, they caused a sensation as they came back from two sets down in their matchup with Serbia – and cancelled two match points for their opponent in the fourth set before emerging victorious at the tiebreak. A multiple European champion during his competitive days with Italy, Giani has made sure he will repeat what he achieved with Slovenia two years ago – while at the helm of that team, he won a historic silver medal at #EuroVolleyM in Sofia.
Regardless of the final result on Sunday night, Germany have already improved on their best performance at the European Championship – a fourth place claimed in 1991 and 1993, which equalled what the former East Germany had achieved in 1967 and 1971.
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