The men’s volleyball world championships in Slovenia and Poland begin on Friday. A wonderful tournament for the German team: you can play without pressure.
It’s the old problem in team sports: if a team has an outstanding star in its own ranks, it’s not always easy to integrate them. This is also the case with the German national volleyball team. Georg Grozer has been making the headlines here for years.
Grozer paused – chance for the others
The now 37-year-old forward is an undisputed world-class player and one of those who can make the difference. But he also attracts almost all the attention of the public, which is not so easy for teammates to accept.
This problem will not arise for the German national team at the World Cup starting on Friday (08/26/2022). Because Grozer is not there. He announced some time ago that he would not play in the national team this season in order to concentrate his strengths: at the 2024 Olympics.
First goal: Survive the group stage
The absence of the pausing top player should release fresh energy among the German volleyball players for the World Cup in Slovenia and Poland. “Georg isn’t there and he’s still a constant topic at every press conference“Captain Lukas Kampa (35) remarked before the group start of the Germans on Friday (5:30 p.m.) in Ljubljana against Olympic champions France: “He is present, but we have others who can take responsibility. From what I’ve seen so far, they’re doing it really, really well.“
The first goal of the German team is to survive the group stage. Means: In the preliminary round against the group opponents France, Slovenia and Cameroon at least place two has to jump out in order to move into the knockout games.
Good mix of old and young
“The game against France is the absolute focus. It will be important for us how we start the tournament. Every point and set won gives us confidence for the other two games“, believes Captain Kampa. “We’ve prepared very well over the last few weeks and months, we know our strengths and we’re focusing on every single game“, said national coach Michal Winiarski.
The national coach likes the mix in the German team in particular: “Lukas Kampa, Christian Fromm and other players who already have a lot of international experience help the young, talented players to bring our best performance to the court.“
24 teams are there
24 teams will start at the 2022 World Cup. Germany qualified from 15th place in the world rankings and are taking part in the finals of the World Cup for the twelfth time. The last success came in 2014 with winning the bronze medal, which was also the first World Cup medal in 40 years.
The field of participants is led by defending champion Poland and the European champions from Italy as well as European runners-up Slovenia, the Asian champion Iran and runners-up Japan, Tunisia and Cameroon, the two finalists of the past African championships. Brazil and Argentina secured their tickets from South America, while Puerto Rico and Canada prevailed in the NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean) championship.
The World Cup roster will then be completed with the top 13 teams in the FIVB World Rankings – among those who have not already qualified through other means: France, USA, Serbia, Cuba, Netherlands, Germany, Turkey, Mexico, China, Egypt, Qatar, Bulgaria, Ukraine.
The German preliminary round matches:
- Friday, August 26, 5:30 p.m.: Germany vs. France
- Sunday, August 28, 5:30 p.m.: Germany vs. Cameroon
- Tuesday, August 30, 8:30 p.m.: Germany vs. Slovenia