2006 Men’s World Championship - Portugal
Hosts leaving no stone unturned (FIVB)
05/17/2005
Vila de Conde, Portugal, May 17, 2005 – World number 18
Portugal are in full preparation mode ahead of the 2006
World Championship second round tournament – Europe Pool
G they are hosting in Vila de Conde starting on Friday.
Coach Orlando Samuels has his side in full training
mode, less than four days before the four-team
competition starts.
Portugal will start favourites in the group which also
features Latvia (equal 50th in the world), Austria (equal
40th in the world) and Estonia (equal 50th in the world
and winner’s of the first round tournament – Europe Pool
D) but with the World League competitors going through a
rebuilding phase, nothing should be taken for granted. Pic: Joao Jose is Portugal's superstar
The winner of the tournament will advance to the third
round, Group J, where Serbia and Montenegro, Greece and
Turkey (second placed finishers from second round
tournament - Group E) await, while the runner’s up will
also advance to the next phase but will play in the more
daunting Group L, which will be composed of Russia,
Poland and Bulgaria (winner’s of Group E).
Latvia and Estonia will open the tournament at 19:00
(local time) on Friday followed by Portugal taking on
Austria at 21:30.
