The German volleyball players’ chances of directly qualifying for the Olympics have suffered a major setback. On Friday evening, coach Vital Heynen’s team lost 2-3 against Poland
The German volleyball players’ chances of directly qualifying for the Olympics have suffered a major setback. On Friday evening, coach Vital Heynen’s team lost 2:3 (25:20, 25:27, 21:25, 25:22, 12:15) to hosts Poland at the qualifying tournament in Lodz. The selection of the German Volleyball Association now has four wins from five games.
The German team would now have to win the last two games against the favorites from Italy and the USA in order to secure one of the two tickets for Paris 2024. On Saturday evening the DVV selection will face Italy (8.45 p.m.).
Decision in tie-break
Unlike against Slovenia on Wednesday, the team got off to a good start against the Poles and was ahead for a long time in the second set. Rounds three and four were close. For a long time no team was able to pull away in the tie-break. A blow out of bounds by the Germans and a block gave Poland the decisive lead. It was the DVV team’s fourth defeat against Poland in the fourth competitive game of the year.
Two starting places for the Olympics will be awarded in each of the three groups of eight in Poland, China and Japan. All group opponents play against each other once. Another chance at the Olympic Games will be in June next year via the world rankings, for which every game counts.