CZECH REPUBLIC 0-3: Athanasopoulos’s national side suffered once again

As in 2021, this year also the Czech Republic, Yannis Athanasopoulos, proved to be an insurmountable hurdle for the Greek national team, which lost 0-3 sets (21-25, 22-25, 17-25) in 92 minutes, in the course of the third round of Women’s group stage at Eurofoli 2023.

The next opponent of our representative group is Azerbaijan (22/8, 18:00, ERT3), with the need to achieve victory.

the match

In the first set, the start was perfect for the national team with pressure on the serve and a good presence in the attack, we advanced with scores of 12-8 and 13-10, but the rebound lost by Anthoulis (Blok Yehlarova) brought the turning point. As the Czech Republic scored singles 1-7 to 14-17.

Spanou’s entry in place of Nikologiannis and the first serve brought us to 18-18, only to lose to Konstantinidou Center, and there to accept a new series for 18-22. However, we still had chances, but lost matches (20-23, 21-24) from the same number of blocks gave the set to the Czech Republic.

In the second set until 8-9 there was a balance, but this is where the mistakes began, as the Czech Republic initially escaped with a score of 8-11 and became 9-11 to become 9-14 to reach 11-19. Meanwhile, Yunus Ocal changed almost the entire starting line-up and the girls who came off the bench provided a huge boost. With Tsitsigianni’s spells and Terzoglou’s block we reduced the score to 16-20 and a little later to 20-23. But the Czech Republic reached 20-24 and at 21-24 with another mistake (bad pass after defense) the set ended.

In the third set, the Federal coach made new changes, as Spano and Terzoglu started the match, but 4-5 became 4-8 to reach 5-10 with a new ace from Valcova and 6-12.

Federal coach Tsitsigani threw Xanthopoulou into the fray again, 8-14 became 11-14, but there the Czech Republic responded immediately, responding with individual scores of 1-5 to 12-19 and it was all over.

groups: 21-25, 22-25, 17-25 in 92′

* Greece’s points came from 1 ace, 36 attacks, 8 blocks and 15 fouls, and the Czech Republic’s points came from 4 aces, 47 attacks, 9 blocks and 15 fouls.

Hellas (Yunus Otsal): Anthoulis 12 (10/34 ref., 2 blocks), Todai, Nikologianni 6 (5/14 ref., 1 block, 47% sub-29% excellent), Kalandatze 3 (2/10 ref., 1 block) , Constantinidu 1 (1 block), Strandzale 6 (5/23ff, 1 block, 55% sub – 45% excellent) / Artaciano (l, 32% sub – 16% excellent), Spano 6 (6/11ff , 30% sub – 20% excellent), Lambrousi, Terzoglou 6 (3/6 ff, 1 ace, 2 ff), Baka, Xanthopoulou 2 (2/2 ff), Tsitsigiani 3 ( 3/6 ff).

Czech Republic (Yiannis Athanasopoulos): Koulisiani 3 (3/6 op), Valkova 3 (1/4 op, 1 ace, 1 block), Gelarova 9 (2/6 op, 3 aces, 4 blocks), Mleinkova 15 (14/ 32 ff, 1 block, 25% sub – 12% excellent), Orvosova 14 (14/36 ff), Havelkova 16 (13/27 ff, 3 blocks, 29% sub – 12% excellent) / Degrinova (l , 46% sub – 29% excellent), Khodanova, Pavlova.

group program

Thursday 17 August

• GREECE-GERMANY 0-3 (19-25, 21-25, 27-29)

Friday 18 August

• Türkiye-Sweden 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-13)
• Azerbaijan – Czech Republic 3-0 (25-21, 25-10, 25-15)

Saturday 19 August

• Sweden-Greece 1-3 (23-25, 25-19, 25-27, 22-25)
• Azerbaijan-Germany 1-3 (13-25, 22-25, 25-12, 14-25)

Sunday 20 August

• 18:00 Greece – Czech Republic 0-3 (21-25, 22-25, 17-25)
• At 21:00 Turkish and Azerbaijani time

Monday 21st August

• 18:00, Czech Republic-Türkiye
• 21:00, Germany – Sweden

Tuesday 22 August

• 18:00 (ERT-3), Azerbaijan – Greece
• 21:00, Germany – Czech Republic

Wed 23 Aug

• 18:00 (ERT-3), Greece – Türkiye
• 21:00, Sweden – Azerbaijan

Thursday 24 August

• 18:00, Czech Republic-Sweden
• 21:00 Turkish and German time

Classification of the third group

1. Germany 2 wins – 0 losses, 6 points, 6-1 sets, 166-141 points
2. Türkiye 1 win 0 losses, 3 points, 3-0 sets, 75-53 points
3. Azerbaijan win 1 lose 1, 3 points, 4-3 sets, 149-133 points
4. Czech Republic 1 win-1 loss, 3 points, 3-3 sets, 121-135 points
5. Greece 1 win-2 losses, 3 points, 3-7 sets, 223-249 points
6. Sweden 0 wins – 2 losses, 0 points, 1-6 sets, 148-171 points

source:EOPE