2006 Men’s World Championships – Hungary & Bulgaria
Three teams still in third round contention in Bulgaria
while in Hungary, Slovenia and the hosts to play for second round spot (FIVB)
05/14/2005
May 14, 2005 – Turkey’s impressive straight sets (25-23,
25-21, 25-21) win over Romania on Saturday has set up a
dream final day at the 2006 Men’s World Championship
second round tournament - Europe Pool E in Varna,
Bulgaria with three teams – Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey
– all still in contention to claim the two spots
available to advance into the third round. Bulgaria beat
Slovakia 3-1 (25-22, 25-11, 22-25, 25-21) to go top of
the table with two wins from as many matches but a loss
to Romania on Sunday and a Turkey victory over Slovakia
means any of the three teams could advance depending on
their set ratio and/or point ratio.
“We wanted a clear victory, but 3-1 is not a bad result,”
Bulgaria captain Plamen Konstantinov said. “The good
news is that from the lost set we have learnt our lesson.
These matches are not only early World Championship
matches for us, but they are good preparation games for
the World league. We have played for the first time with
Andrey Zhekov as a setter and he is doing fine.” Pic: Turkey's Ahmet Tocoglu celebrates
Turkey is currently second ahead of Romania only on set
ratio with both teams having a one-win, one-loss record
but if Romania pull of a huge upset and beat Bulgaria
convincingly on Sunday and Turkey beat Slovakia, then
Bulgaria could miss out.
If Turkey lose, then Romania, if they lose as well, just
have to win one more set than Turkey to advance. All in
all it makes for a fascinating final day, which sees
Bulgaria play Romania at 17:30 (local time) before
Slovakia take on Turkey at 20:00 (local time).
Meanwhile, in Hungary, Slovenia and the hosts both
recorded victories on Saturday to leave them with two
wins from two matches. Slovenia beat Azerbaijan 3-1
(25-16, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20) before Hungary beat Moldova
3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-15) to confirm that Sunday’s final
match will decide which team advances through to the
second round.
"Our blocks and attacks were impressive, therefore I'm
happy,” Hungary coach György Demeter said: “The
Moldavian team fought, but I think we were better and I
hope we will play exactly the same on Sunday."
Only the winner of the Hungary tournament will advance
to the second round, so Azerbaijan will play Moldova at
15:00 (local time) before the big finale between Hungary
and Slovenia at 17:30 (local time).
