Slovenia starting their Olympic mission against Belgium

The silver medalists from the recent European Championship are alongside the Czech Republic the only national team from the MEVZA area to still participate in the qualifications for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo. And like the Czechs, Slovenia also plays in Pool A, where their other opponents are Germany and Belgium. The two best will advance to the semifinals where they cross with the first and second placed team from Pool B, where Bulgaria, France, the Netherlands, and Serbia are competing.

CEV EuroVolley 2019, Ljubljana – FOTO © CEV

In the last days before the tournament, the Slovenians hosted the national team of the Netherlands and played three friendly matches. The guests were more successful in the first, while Slovenia won the next two encounters. Slovenia’s Coach, Alberto Giuliani had the opportunity to test the readiness of his entire squad. It was especially those who had received fewer opportunities to play at the last European Championship that proved themselves. In the third game, captain Tine Urnaut was missing due to illness, however also traveled to Berlin the next day with his team.

Newcomer to the national team is the 17-year-old Rok Možic, otherwise the list of travelers to Berlin matches the “Silver squad” from the European Championships this past autumn. With the exception of Vide?nik and Možic, they all play abroad. Urnaut transferred from Modena to Shanghai after last season, Pajenk, Vincic and Toncek Štern are competing in the strong Polish league, Kozamernik, Cebulj and Kovacic in the Italian Championship, Klobucar in France, Ropret and Stalekar in Germny, while Gasparini moved from South Korea to Japan.

PHOTO © CEV

Slovenia’s first opponent are the Belgians, who are considered a very good team, after all they are ranked sixth in the European Volleyball Association’s (CEV) ranking, just before Slovenia. According to Urnaut, the Belgians have a fairly new team with good reception, and a fast offense, so it will be necessary to serve aggresive and well in order to move them away from the net.

Photo Credit:
Volleyball Federation of Slovenia (OZS)
European Volleyball Confederation (CEV)