Final moments for the first pool of the European Women's Championships that are starting to offer the first direct matches for the best placings within every single group. At the end of the 4th day the real surprise is Germany, which inflicts the first defeat of the event on the tie-break to Russia; victories for Slovakia (which secured a place in the Round of 16), Serbia, Turkey and Poland, while the Netherlands and Italy continued their tournament at full speed without even giving a set. Heavy defeat suffered by Hungary in front of the public friend of Budapest at the hands of Azerbaijan, 0-3.
Pool A
Serbia, the current champion, continues without uncertainty by beating France easily, 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 17-25, 25-23): a bit of rest for Tijana Boskovic and Brankica Mihajlovic who enter only at the end of the game and still manage to land 14 points each.
For France, despite a splendid performance in the third, the situation is complicated also in consideration of the accident occurred to the spiker Manon Moreels that today will be evaluated. The 3rd victory also for Giovanni Guidetti's Turkey, 3-1 (25-21, 25-11, 20-25, 25-17) which awaits the confrontation against Serbia and which grants only one set to Bulgaria, without victories but mathematically still able to access the second phase.
Ranking: Serbia 3 wins (9 points), Turkey 3 (8), Greece 2 (6), France 1 (2), Bulgaria 0 (1), Finland 0 (1).
Today match: 4 p.m. Finland-France, 6.30 p.m. Greece-Bulgaria
Pool B
While Italy wins another 3-0 victory against Belgium after one of the Olympic qualifiers, the 3rd success without conceding any set, Poland beats Ukraine in a match that started badly but ended in fluency 3-1 (20- 25, 25-11, 25-22, 25-15).
The hosts will have to win against Italy because they have a lower set balance, or hope that Italy collapses against Slovenia before the rest and the confrontation. Poland in which Malwina Smarzek-Godek is once again noted, with 26 points.
Ranking: Italy and Poland 3 wins (9), Belgium 2 (6), Slovenia 1 (3), Ukraine and Portugal 0 (0).
Today match: 6 p.m. Portugal-Belgium, 9 p.m. Italy-Slovenia
Pool C
Only Netherland (and Italy) continue to score full and without conceding set: the Orange inflict the third 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-23) of their European to Croatia directed by Daniele Santarelli.
In a team that has rotated quite a lot leaving Sloetjes at rest, Nika Daalderop is highlighted, with 16 points, along with Celeste Plak and Robin de Kruijf at 14 points. a dry 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-22) from the team coached by Giovanni Caprara. Despite the Szakmary (15) the magyaras never manage to take control of the match: devastating Polina Rahimova, 22 points out of 34 attacks, 12 more for Hasanova and 20 for Aliyeva.
Ranking: Netherlands 3 wins (9), Romania 2 (6), Azerbaijan 2 (5), Croatia 1 (4), Hungary 1 (3), Estonia 0 (0).
Today in the field: 4 p.m. Holland-Estonia, 6.30 p.m. Romania-Croatia
Pool D
The real surprise of the day is the resounding victory of Germany over Russia: the German butterflies prove to be not only combative but also a quality team. Germany that goes under, overturns the match and comeback in the tie-break, 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 14-25, 15-11). Russia is quite inaccurate in the decisive moments of the match: between the German ranks five players in double figures with Louise Lippman top scorer (17) despite several errors and a non-extraordinary offensive percentage (34%). The rotation with all the players of the bench which proved to be very effective was also decisive for Germany: Goncharova (19) and a much more effective wall were not enough for Russia (18-11).
Exciting race in Bratislava with Slovakia recovering from a game that seemed lost against Belarus and catches the knockout rounds. This is the first time in the history of Slovakia; previously the company had succeeded only in Czechoslovakia.
Russia's surprising defeat could also influence Italy's path. The Italians, by now practically certain of closing their own group in the first two positions, will meet in fact in the third round the third or the fourth of the group D: if the adversary was Slovakia, this would involve an inconvenient transfer from Lodz to Bratislava. But at the moment the national team of Marco Fenoglio is in first place, thanks to the ko of the Russians and the tiring 3-2 success on Belarus.
Ranking: Slovakia and Germany 3 wins (8 points), Russia 2 (7), Spain 1 (3), Belarus 0 (1), Switzerland 0 (0).
Today in the field: 5.30 p.m. Spain-Switzerland, 8 p.m. Germany-Croatia.
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