April 29, 2005 – Hosts France overcame a determined Belgium side 3-2 (19-25, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17, 19-17) in a classic five-set battle between the two unbeaten sides of the 2006 Women’s World Championship first round tournament (Europe Pool C) in Saint-Dié, France on Friday while Finland collected their first victory beating Bosnia Herzegovina 3-1 (25-23, 25-14, 19-25, 25-13). Meanwhile Estonia and Israel made the perfect start on the opening day of the 2006 Men’s World Championship first round tournament (Europe Pool D) in Tallinn, Estonia by beating Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina respectively.

In Saint-Dié, France collected their second victory of the tournament and remain as the only unbeaten side as they snuck past Belgium in just over two hours. Both teams remain as the favourites to claim a ticket through to the next round but Finland’s victory, their first of the tournament, keeps them in contention.

The top two teams will advance to the second round with the winner of the tournament joining Greece, Ukraine and another first round team in June, while the second placed side will head to Azerbaijan in May to play the hosts, Romania and Spain.

Unbeaten France will now play Bosnia Herzegovina, who are yet to win a match in the tournament, on Saturday at 18.30 (CET), followed by Finland taking on Norway at 21.00 (CET) with Belgium receiving the rest day.

In Tallinn, the hosts collected a comfortable 3-0 (25-21, 25-7, 25-12) win over Albania, who were playing their first World Championship match for 40 years while Israel beat Bosnia Herzegovina 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-18).

Estonian head-coach, long-time national player and 1996 Beach Volleyball Olympian, Avo Keel was satisfied with his first match in charge. "In the first set my players were a little confused because the Albania players play in different playing positions for their clubs,” he said. “However, despite the final result we took this match very seriously.”

Saturday’s matches, which see Israel play Estonia at 15.00 (local time) followed by Bosnia Herzegovina taking on Albania at 17.30, will go along way to deciding who will win the tournament remembering the winner of the four-team tournament will advance to a second round tournament in Portugal in May to play with the hosts, Latvia and Austria for a chance to advance to the third round.