2006 World Championships
Russia and Poland men
advance to Final Round
(FIVB)
07/16/2005
Rzeszow,
Poland, July 16, 2005 – Favourites for the 2006 Men’s
World Championship third round tournament – Europe Pool
L Russia and Poland both advanced to the Final Round of
the tournament after collecting their second win from as
many matches on Saturday.
Russia comfortably beat Estonia 3-0 (25-18, 25-11,
25-23) while Poland overcame Bulgaria 3-1 (25-16, 17-25,
25-22, 25-17) and both sides sit in an assailable lead
going into the final day on Sunday. Pic: Russia (pictured) and Poland have won two games
from as many matches
World number four Russia and Poland, ranked eighth in
the world, will now play on Sunday to determine who wins
the tournament, while Estonia and Bulgaria will play off
on Sunday to see who advances to a play off for a Final
Round ticket.
The current standings see Russia and Poland on top of
the group and confirmed to advanced to the Final Round
while Estonia and Bulgaria will fight to gain some
credibility before the tournament is over.
Pool L is the first of four European third round
tournaments being played this month and since Europe has
nine vacancies in the final round in Japan, the top two
sides from each tournament will claim final round
tickets. The third placed side in each tournament will
enter a four-way play-off for one remaining ticket.
Day three sees Estonia play Bulgaria at 16:00 local time
(14:00 GMT) followed by Poland taking on Russia at 19:00
(17:00 GMT).
