30/06/2016 17:44
All set for men’s European League Final Four in Varna
2016 CEV Volleyball European League - Men
Varna, Bulgaria, June 30, 2016. A day ahead of the Final Four of the 2016 CEV Volleyball European League to be held in Varna, Bulgaria, the four best teams of this year’s edition are ready to compete to claim the title. The best teams of Pool A and B, who did also host League Round tournaments, are the Former Y.R. of Macedonia, Estonia, Austria and Bulgaria. The latter hosts the finals at the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna - a venue which is already well-known to many Volleyball fan across Europe and the world.
Pool A winners, the Former Y.R. of Macedonia secured their spot in the Final Four in Varna with confidence, coming out of the League Round unbeaten in six matches. With 11 points, five behind the Former Y.R. of Macedonia, Bulgaria confirmed their ability to challenge other Final Four competitors, finishing second in Pool A. the Former Y.R. of Macedonia is up to beat their own result from last year's Final Four in Walbrzych, Poland, where they won the silver medal after losing to Slovenia in the ‘grand finale’. In the League Round the team was led by Nikola Gjorgiev, who cemented his role as the best scorer of the team and of the whole competition with an impressive tally of 178 points thus far.
In Pool B Estonia recorded a similar result, carrying on the winning streak throughout the entire League Round with six victories and 17 points. The second best team of the pool, Austria, claimed 12 points from their four victories. Estonia secured their Final Four ticket on the opening day of the second round robin tournament, held in Rakvere, but the team didn’t stop there, continuing its winning streak until the end of the group stage. Austria claimed its first ever Final Four berth after completing the task by winning with tournament rookies Luxembourg on the last day of the League Round in Rakvere.
Pool A winners, the Former Y.R. of Macedonia will open the competition with the first semi-final match against Pool B runners-up Austria. The match will begin at 15:00 local time, while the hosting team Bulgaria will face Pool B winners Estonia in the second semi-final three hours later. The third place and gold medal matches will be played at 15:00 and 18:00 on Saturday, July 2.
Who will claim the title and become eligible to be promoted to the FIVB World League Group 3 in 2017? Will the gold go to the Former Y.R. of Macedonia in their attempt to beat their own result of the previous season or will it be the other unbeaten team of the 2016 CEV Volleyball European League, Estonia, to emerge victorious? Bulgaria is looking confident as the team will be supported by their always passionate fans. And at last, rookies Austria in a fever of reaching the Final Four have no pressure, but will enjoy the tournament and make the other teams run for their money on the way to the highest step of the podium.
Click here for more info including a detailed match programme
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