After the narrow defeat against favorite Italy, the German volleyball players are starting the knockout phase of the European Championships with a lot of self-confidence. The Netherlands are waiting in the round of 16.
At the end of an intense evening in Ancona, the German volleyball players were initially annoyed at the missed sensation. “If someone had told me beforehand that we could score 2-3 and play like that, we would all have agreed to it.”said national player Julian Zenger after the surprisingly close and dramatic defeat against world and European champions Italy: “But when you reach the tie-break, you also want to win, so the disappointment is already there.” In a tough fight, national coach Michal Winiarski’s team forced the hosts through the full five rounds – only the decisive knock-out was missing.
“Big Push”
But the disappointment over the missed opportunity quickly gave way to the self-confidence gained for the tasks ahead. Even before the duel with co-hosts Italy, the DVV team had secured their ticket for the next round after three wins and one defeat.
The fact that Germany now inflicted the first set losses of the European Championship on the almost overpowering Italians was encouraging – especially because top performers like Georg Grozer and captain Lukas Kampa were rested on Wednesday. “It was important that we went onto the field with energy and played a game like that”said Zenger – that’s what the team has “given another big push”.
Optimism in the German team
And this should now carry the team into the round of 16. The duel with the Dutch neighbors awaits in Bari on Saturday (9 p.m.). “We know we can beat them – and that’s what we want to do”said Erik Röhrs. Teammate Zenger was also optimistic – and formulated the route for Saturday: “Full attack on Holland!”
“Oranje” only lost in the group phase against the three-time world champion and co-favorite Poland (1:3), otherwise they only lost one set. The route to the quarter-finals, which the German team has reached at the European Championships five times in a row since 2013, will not be a walk in the park.