2024-04-13 15:52:17
“At this level and age, anyone can beat anyone,” commented the coach of Bulgaria’s under-20 women’s national team, Borislav Krachanov, after the draw for the European Championship was drawn.
Bulgaria is the co-host of the championship together with Ireland. The competition will take place between August 5 and 17, with Sofia hosting Group I and Dublin hosting Group II. The final four will also be held in our capital.
Our volleyball players will face Turkey, Croatia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Belgium and Sweden.
“The group is quite equal. There are certainly countries whose women’s rankings make them favorites in theory, but at this age the forces are very equal. I think we got into a decent group,” Krachanov pointed out.
Turkey finished second at last year’s Women’s Under-19 World Cup and are one of the main favorites for the upcoming tournament. Bulgaria will face our southern neighbor at the Balkan Championship, which will be held between July 22 and 26.
“There is no way to run away from certain competitors. We play well against them and we have to give them back. Last year at the World Cup they proved that they are the favorite by reaching the final.”
Croatia and Sweden won the zonal first qualification, while the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Belgium reached the finals after the second screenings.
“We shouldn’t underestimate any team. The Netherlands are a very strong team, Slovenia, Croatia too…”
Whether hosting the championship will help our team, this is what the Bulgarian coach thinks:
“It’s nice to play at home. Of course playing in front of our own crowd will give us the support and wings we need to overcome ourselves, but on the other hand it’s also a big responsibility. Because all the spotlights are on us. I hope we prepare well and to play a good European game. He must also prepare psychologically.”
According to the regulations of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV), 16 teams participate in this championship – the two hosts and 14 teams that qualify from the two qualifiers. In the group stage, the teams are divided into two groups of 8. They will play head-to-head, and the top two finishers in the final standings advance. The two teams from the two groups play cross-over in the eliminations.
“I don’t like the format. It’s a killer. A lot of games are played in a small period of time. But we have to adapt and prepare for a tough fight. It’s tough for sure, but that’s for all teams. We’re preparing for it !”
Krachanov and his staff already have a plan for preparation, but there will most likely be some adjustments.