European Championship-2023. Group round. Group B. The fifth match
September 5, Tuesday
Spain - Ukraine - 0:3 (21:25, 21:25, 19:25)
Starting line-up of the national team of Ukraine: Plotnytskyi (scored 15 points), Synytsia (2), Semeniuk (8), Shchurov (1), Kovalov (13), Tupchii (15), Kanaiev (l), Boiko (l). Substitutes: Kucher (1).
Head coach: Uģis Krastiņš.
Starting line-up of the national team of Spain: Ruiz (1), Villena (17), Ramon (13), Fornes (5), Martin (1), Iribarne (0), Posados (libero). Substituted: Jimeno, Almansa (0), Rodriguez (2).
Head coach: Miguel Rivera.
The decisive match for a place in the 1/8 finals did not start very well for Ukraine: the Spaniards took the lead, and the points we earned were the mistakes of the opponent (2:5). Such a start angered the Ukrainians in a good way and they became more active on the serve, in the attack and on the block (8:8). Gradually, the initiative in the match passed to the wards of Ugis Krastinš (14:11 - 19:14). Opposite Vasyl Tupchii effectively decided to end the opening set - he served a powerful ace and 25:21.
In the second set, the game was pretty even (9:9), but the Ukrainians did not lose their concentration and effectively completed their shots (16:19). The Spaniards made mistakes, and their main attackers Andres Villana and Jorge Ramona did not play well. In the end, it was helpful for us. And this time Illia Kovalov and Yurii Semeniuk put the full stop in the end with a block - 25:21.
The third set was quite calm: the "blue-yellows" dominated (9:4), and the coach of the Spaniards only waved his hands and took time-outs. As a result, the wards of Ugis Krastinš kept the advantage without any problems and did not allow the opponent to score more than 19 points - 25:19 and 3:0.
So, the Ukrainians took at least fourth place in group B, and now they have to wait for the result of the match between Bulgaria and Slovenia. If the Bulgarians lose to the Slovenians with a score of 0:3 or 1:3, Ukraine will move up to the third place in the group.
If the "blue and yellows" become fourth, they will play against France in the round of 16 of Euro-2023.
In the case of the third place in group B, the Ukrainians will start the playoff with a match against Portugal.
