Qualification Tournament for the European Championships 2009

In 2008, 37 men’s teams in Europe, representing their respective national federations, will compete to qualify for the nine remaining places to the European Championships Finals, which will be organized in 2009, in Turkey.

Teams already qualified: Turkey, Spain, Russia, Serbia, Finland, Germany and Italy.

1st round 8 May (H) - 10/11 May (A)
Great Britain – Denmark
Montenegro – Norway
Cyprus – EXYR of Macedonia
Austria – Sweden
Moldavia – Israel
Luxembourg – Romania
Albania – Azerbaijan

2nd round tournament dates to be fixed on 27th October
Pool A
Slovakia
Czech Rep
Ukraine
Luxembourg/Romania

Pool B
Netherlands
Slovenia
Latvia
Albania/Azerbaijan

Pool C
France
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cyprus/Macedonia

Pool D
Belgium
Greece
GBritain/Denmark
Austria/Sweden

Pool E
Bulgaria
Croatia
Portugal
Moldavia/Israel

Pool F
Poland
Estonia
Hungary
Montenegro/Norway

3rd round 6/7 September (H) - 13/14 September (A)
2nd ranked of Pool A vs 2nd ranked of Pool C
2nd ranked of Pool B vs 2nd ranked of Pool E
2nd ranked of Pool D vs 2nd ranked of Pool F

Yes, Turkey is host country.
1st matches of qual. tournaments start on 3rd/4th-8th May 2008.

Quote from "AFROMAN"

I have a question. As far as I remember The Nederlands finished 6th in the EC 2007, one place in front of Italy, and now I see that Italy is directly qualified? Why?

No, Netherlands finished on 7th place, Italy was 6th

Quote from "AFROMAN"

Ok, so it was my mistake, but I don't know I had the feeling that Italy is 7th

First 4 places in Pool E
1. Spain
2. Serbia
3. Germany
4. Netherlands

First 4 places in Pool F
1. Russia
2. Finland
3. Italy
4. Bulgaria

3 teams from Pool E + 3 teams from Pool E. The Netherlands was on 4th place so thats why they didn't get qualify.

Quote from "AFROMAN"

but anyway it is stupid decision set ratio to be considered, because every team got used to the point ratio and I really think that point ratio is much more important and more fair.

I like more CEV's rules than FIVB's because for me is more important how many sets teams won than how many points in sets they scored.

Quote from "Justyna"

2nd round tournament dates to be fixed on 27th October

2nd round
Pool A: 1st tournament in Slovakia 23-25/05/2008; 2nd Czech Rep. 30/05-01/06/2008
Pool B: 1st tournament in Nederland 16-18/05/2008; 2nd in Slovenia 30/05-01/06/2008
Pool C: 1st tournament in France 16-18/05/2008; 2nd in Bosnia and Herzegovina 30/05-01/06/2008
Pool D: 1st tournament in Belgium 23-25/05/2008; 2nd in Greece 30/05-01/06/2008
Pool E: 1st tournament in Bulgaria 16-18/05/2008; 2nd in Portugal 23-25/05/2008
Pool F: 1st tournament in Poland 16-18/05/2008; 2nd in Estonia 23-25/05/2008
The dates of the tournaments might still be subject of modifications.

1st round
Great Britain – Denmark 3:2 (25:22 20:25 25:19 22:25 15:11)
Montenegro – Norway 3:0 (25:13 25:16 25:21)
Cyprus – EXYR of Macedonia 3:0 (25:18 25:18 25:23)
Austria – Sweden 2:3 (25:15 20:25 19:25 25:22 11:15)
Moldavia – Israel 3:1 (27:25 28:30 25:23 25:22)
Luxembourg – Romania 0:3 (23:25 12:25 14:25)
Albania – Azerbaijan 3:1 (25:21 15:25 25:21 27:25)

Today are 2nd matches.

And last 4 matches of 1st round:
EXYR of Macedonia - Cyprus 3:0 (25:15 25:16 25:17)
Israel - Moldavia 3:1 (23:25 25:19 25:15 25:21)
Romania - Luxembourg 3:0 (25:16 25:18 25:20)
Azerbaijan - Albania 3:1 (20:25 25:18 25:19 25:22)

Great Britain, Montenegro, Macedonia, Sweden, Israel, Romania, Azerbaijan qualified for 2nd round.

A very tough round-robin expected in Poland
The clash between the two pre-favorite teams will kick off the 2nd Qualification Round - Pool F – for next year’s Men’s Senior European Championships which will be staged in Olsztyn, Poland, this week.

The hosts will try to make a great spectacle against Montenegro, which after the partition from Serbia stands as the 'youngest child' within the CEV family. These two teams have a great chance to finish 1st or 2nd respectively – thus moving to the next round - but Estonia and Hungary won't be underdogs for sure.

Pawel Zagumny, setter of the Polish National Team, reveals that it should be a vital moment for his team: 'We will participate in the Olympic Qualifications, so such tournaments, like here and the return in Estonia, should make us stronger. We will have many occasions to win official matches and to make new tactical experiments'. His team-mate from Mlekpol AZS Olsztyn, Marcin Mozdzonek, who plays as a middle-blocker, predicts a hot month for the Polish National Team: 'Raul Lozano will surely have a big problem with choosing the right roster for the Olympic Qualifications and also for the Olympics. I don't believe we won't go to Beijing in August'.

This is the first time for Montenegro and Estonia to compete in the Urania Hall. As for Hungary, it will be the second visit in this arena. Last time they played in Urania against Denmark, Poland and Russia in 1997.

For Polish the supporters it will be a very solemn moment, because the Men’s European Championships 2009 Qualification Tournament serves also as the 6th edition of the Wagner's Memorial – a tribute to the best Polish coach ever, who died in 2002. With him at the helm, the Polish National Team won the World Championship in 1974 and the Olympic Tournament two years later.

Matches in Olsztyn will be seen by 2,000 spectators from many cities in Poland. A number of them will also participate in the Polish National Championships in grass volleyball. This competition will be held on the fields close to the Urania Hall.

CEV

Poland - Montenegro 3:0 (25:19; 25:18; 25:20)

Poland: Piotr Nowakowski (7), Daniel Pliński (9), Marcin Wika (4), Mariusz Wlazły (13), Paweł Woicki (1), Sebastian Świderski (8 ), Krzysztof Ignaczak (libero) and Piotr Gruszka (2), Łukasz Żygadło, Krzysztof Gierczyński (7).

Montenegro: Hanza Zatric (10), Aleksandar Milivojevic (1), Milan Jurisic (8 ), Milan Markowic (3), Simo Dabovic (2), Milos Culafic (17), Ivan Rasovic (libero) and Ivan Knazevic