CEV Men’s European Championship 2019 - hosts France, Slovenia, Belgium and the Netherlands

Vital Heynen made 6 substitutions at one time during 2nd set in match Poland-Ukraine

I saw this for the very first time.

At 14-8, Pol coach changed all players to reserves. Is that possible? I thought you can only sub a certain number of players or do that at the start of next set.

Quote from ravhin

At 14-8, Pol coach changed all players to reserves. Is that possible? I thought you can only sub a certain number of players or do that at the start of next set.

It is possible. You can make 6 subs per set, any time, any player, any amount of players.

Quote from WZP

It is possible. You can make 6 subs per set, any time, any player, any amount of players.

Kinda weird. If I am UKR, POL is like "insulting" my team's capabilty/skill. Changing the players mid-set.

Yes, Spain got lucky but Slovakia is a mess, they are weaker and weaker every year and with these players and coach they will be no better. With their horrible serve and reception Poland would nail them into the ground.

Quote from YavorD

Everyone was impressed with his contribution against Brazil, he enjoyed an almost flawless evening back then. Atanasov had already indicated his NT potential when he made that superb champion season with Dobrudzha 3 years ago. Konstantinov was the first to invite him to the NT, yet his work approach didn't quite allow Atanasov to shine under his guidance. I still remember a very timid Atanasov coming in from the bench in that last World League 2017 weekend in Argentina against Brazil. After he unluckily got injured at the beginning of his tenure at Heynen's Friedrichshafen (I am sure he would've learned a lot from Heynen but it wasn't meant to be), Prandi took him to Chaumont and they have been working successfully together ever since.

With Prandi returning at the helm of the NT, it was expected that Atanasov will certainly be among the 4 OHs in the main team, if not more. Prandi knew he was ready to be a starter, so did most of us who followed his progress in France. Atanasov will play a major role in this new Bulgarian team in the years to come. After his unofficial inauguration at the Olympics qualifier in Varna (plus, of course, the VNL), this ECH is his first big tournament with the NT. He shows huge improvement, he can be very valuable in all aspects of the game, has a tough and reliable jump serve, good reception, and a high attack reach. He actually has the whole volleyball package, what he lacks is consistency, typical to most youngsters. This is exactly the problem that haunts him at the ongoing Euro. He can be threatening in one set and then silent and unfocused in another. Yet, I would argue that these are problems of the entire NT right now, not just Atanasov's. For I am confident the latter will develop even more, no matter if in the French league or somewhere else.

As for the Bulgarian NT, Prandi is a master but even he can't miraculously change the destiny of this group of players. Let alone the fact that they don't have enough quality and depth in the roster in general. They can still play good volleyball, showed it against Brazil and yesterday vs. Italy, but this is a team that has won just few bigger matches in recent years, has confidence issues, and, what is worse, doesn't seem to have a Plan B when Plan A doesn't work (anymore). The last fragment of that sentence could have been witnessed against Italy last night. Similarly, versus Brazil in Varna, too. A win in August and an Olympic ticket would've given them a confidence boost and more motivation to work but, as we know, it didn't happen. Now, I fear Slovenia will beat them in Ljubljana and they won't reach the otherwise expected quarterfinal berth.

Sorry for the long rant, I got carried away.

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Thanks for the detailed response. I agree that Atanasov has the complete package. He seems to be the best all-round OH since Konstantinov‘s retirement one decade ago. It’s so rare to find a player from Bulgaria NT who is so strong at both attack and reception. He’s definitely crucial to the future of the NT.

So the chart starting from QF, SF and Final is:

If everything goes well by the prediction, France will play against Italy in QF, and the winner of this match will play against Serbia in semi. On the second section, Poland will meet Russia in semi. It's another big match we could keep an eye on.

Did Kovac challenge their own block point? lmao

Atleast he's fair to Austria but still doubt he will do the same thing to the contenders.

I don't think Serbia's safe for the semi. Czech Republic defeated France in 2017. They can be a handful if they're on their lucky day.

Quote from andrea

Thanks for the detailed response. I agree that Atanasov has the complete package. He seems to be the best well-rounded OH since Konstantinov‘s retirement one decade ago. It’s so rare to find a player from Bulgaria NT who is so strong at both attack and reception. He’s definitely crucial to the future of the NT.

With the increase in speed in volleyball and specialization in positions, all-around players have almost become extinct. It's rare to find such players in general, a combination of both qualities makes you a sought-after asset everywhere. However, I would slightly divert from your judgement here. Skrimov and Kaziyski are, to me, great all-around OHs. Kaziyski became a legend/emperor for his leadership, serve, and attack skills, but his reception is somehow overlooked.

The Dutch drag the match to 4th set

Somebody sub off Atanasijevic after the 20th point.

Hadrava is a great server.

Imo Netherlands need to find some better OH. I dont like Ter Horst at all.

Lisinac's serve is dismantling Czech republic. They were doing so well before his turn.

Lisinac and Czech Republic coach are related, aren't they?

Germany have used the day off well. Simple, yet effective tactics against the Dutch, not too much risk from the service line, knowing Piazza's men make mistakes, their best performance so far in the tournament came when it mattered the most. Abdel-Aziz still scored a lot, there is no way around that, but the German block touched a lot of balls. This is still not the same Germany compared to 2017, mainly because they don't have the same Grozer, but they might have more to show against Poland than the Netherlands. Giani tried 3 OHs next to Fromm, someone has to step up more and support the rest of the attackers against Poland. Perhaps Schott will start again, I am confident the rotations will continue, though.

Piazza didn't have much to choose from for a needed change when his players (Keemink, more specifically) killed themselves and all their efforts at the end of set 2. He repaced Jorna with van Garderen, offering more power and risk to change the game's rhythm. It worked but only in set 3. Playing against an opponent with very similar characteristics to their own, as ter Maar pointed out in the short interview before the match, you have to either outblock, outattack, outserve, or outsmart them. Instead, the Dutch seem to have made more mistakes, had more aces coming from the lucky top of the net than from traditional ways, and overall didn't show improvement from the great WCH last year. Which is pity indeed.

good luck to my baby daddy Tsvetan Sokolov and #TeamBulgaria

Italy lost Lanza (already back home due to injury), Lavia, Colaci and Giannelli (viral gastroenteritis). I guess that's what it takes to see new faces in the NT.

any link to slovenia x Bulgaria?