2006 World Championships – Portugal & Romania
Slovakia women book second round ticket in
Portugal while Belarus and Romania men win on opening
day in Romania (FIVB)
05/06/2005
May 6, 2005 – World number 66 Slovakia upstaged the form
books to secure a second round spot in the 2006 Women’s
World Championship after collecting their third win in
as many matches on Friday at the Europe Pool B first
round tournament in Santo Tirso, Portugal. Meanwhile, on
the opening day at the 2006 Men’s World Championship
first round tournament (Europe Pool C) in Tulcea,
Romania, the home side beat Norway 3-0 (25-21, 25-14,
25-19), while Belarus beat Belgium 3-1 (25-22, 23-25,
25-21, 26-24).
In Portugal, where the top two teams will advance to the
second round, Slovakia went to the top of the table
after comfortably beating winless Austria 3-0 (25-10,
25-23, 25-18) for their third win in as many matches,
while second placed Belarus (ranked 56th) received the
bye to remain with two wins from two matches. With only
one game (against Belarus on Saturday) and a rest day to
complete, Slovakia cannot finish worse than second. Pic: Great dig from Austria's Malgorzata Kaczmarek
The other match on day three saw Slovenia (ranked 46th)
collect their first win of the tournament handing
Portugal their second defeat 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-20).
With two days remaining in the tournament, the race is
now on between Belarus and Slovenia, who have one win
from three matches, for the second ticket through to the
second round. Slovenia, who have the rest day on
Saturday, must beat Austria on Sunday while hoping
Belarus fail to beat Slovakia and Portugal in their two
remaining matches.
The winner of the tournament will head to Croatia for a
second round tournament with the hosts, Serbia and
Montenegro and the Czech Republic while the
second-placed team will book a second round spot to face
Greece, France and the Ukraine in Greece.
Day four of the 2006 Women’s World Championship first
round tournament (Europe Pool B) sees Portugal take on
Austria at 10:30 (GMT) before Slovakia play Belarus at
15:00 (GMT).
Meanwhile, in Romania, the home side and Belarus got the
early head start for the one second round ticket on
offer with their opening victories.
Day two of the 2006 Men’s World Championship first round
tournament (Europe Pool C) sees Norway play Belarus at
16:00 and Romania play Belgium at 18:30.
The third tournament of the weekend – the 2006 Men’s
World Championship first round tournament (South America
Pool A) in Mar del Plata, Argentina – starts at 21:00
(local time) with Argentina playing Uruguay.
