The German volleyball players are facing an early end at the World Cup in Poland and Slovenia.
In the final game of Group D in Ljubljana, the team of the new national coach Michal Winiarski lost 0:3 (16:25, 22:25, 17:25) to hosts and vice European champions Slovenia.
“We are not able to play our volleyball under certain circumstances with a certain state of stress. It wasn’t just about today’s game,” said captain Lukas Kampa self-critically: “We saw it against France in the second set, we did We saw it against Cameroon in the first set that we’re not able to pull off what we need to be able to compete on a stage like that.”
After losing the opening match against Olympic champions France and beating Cameroon, the selection of the German Volleyball Association (DVV) would have needed a clear victory in the last group game to secure their ticket to the round of 16 on their own. Due to the clear defeat against Slovenia, the Winiarski team is now dependent on support, as the four best third-placed groups also move into the knockout phase.
Meanwhile, hosts Slovenia are following group leaders France into the round of 16. For the DVV selection it is the first World Cup participation in eight years.