Luxembourg, January 15, 2021. After the draw for the qualifying groups, Turkey stood out for many as being the favourite to qualify for CEV EuroVolley 2021. Despite their status of favourites, coach Nedim Ozbey’s team is yet to achieve mathematical confirmation of the first place at the tournament in Skopje. That will not happen today either even in the eventuality of a triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina in three sets. 

If we are to consider the previous encounter between the two teams just a few days ago at the arena "Boris Trajkovski", another win for Turkey would be expected. The Turkish serves were of exceptional quality, so the Bosnian national team could not organise an attack. Burutay Subasi won six aces out of a total of 19 points, and Adis Lagumdzija and Yigit Gulmezoglu were excellent as well, so the eigth-finalist from the last European Championship played dominantly and with two victories so far, six points and a set-score of 6-1 tops Pool C ahead of the final two matches. 

After the Macedonian volleyball players recorded a victory over Bosnia yesterday, they regained their self-confidence because they played at a higher level compared to their first duel, and today they have a day off and opportunity to analyse their own game, as well as the Turkish national team style of play. If Turkey completes today's task with 3: 0, then for the first place Team MKD will need an identical victory tomorrow against the team led by the experienced setter Arslan Eksi. Any other result will mean a direct placement of the Turkish team at the final tournament in Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Finland. 

But second place could also matter. With two wins and six points so far, TEAM MKD has real hopes to be among the five runners-up in the seven qualifying groups, but with any triumph, or with two sets and one point from tomorrow's match with Turkey, the Macedonian volleyball players will open the door towards CEV EuroVolley 2021 even more.