The European Golden League 2023 has come to its logical conclusion - the fight for medals. According to the regulations of the men's draw, four teams will gather in one city and play two semi-finals, a match for third place, and a final in two days. Such a final stage is called the "Final Four".
The matches of this year's "Final Four" will be held in the Croatian city of Zadar.
The same teams as last year will fight for the title of the winner of the European League 2023: Ukraine, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Croatia. The Croatian national team reached the semi-finals for the second time in a row as the host. Turkey won Group A, and the Czech Republic won Group C.
On June 24, at 21:00 Kyiv time, the men's national team of Ukraine will play in the European Golden League 2023 semifinals. The opponent of the Ukrainian team will be the Croatians.
Composition of the teams
The Croatian national team has been led by the French specialist Cedric Henard for two years. Previously, he was the coach of the German "Berlin", the French "Tours" and the national team of Estonia.
The hosts of the final round are preparing very seriously for the 1/2 final match. There are some changes in the composition of the Croatian team, which will only strengthen the overall team play. Experienced setter Timofej Žukovski ("Nysa" Poland) and opposite Petar Dirlic ("Milan" Italy) joined the team.
There are no changes in the composition of the "blue-yellows" - the team is ready to fight for the final.
The composition of the National team of Croatia:
setters: Timofey Zhukovski ("Nysa" Poland), Petar Visic ("Monza" Italy), Bernard Bakonzhi ("Unicaha" Spain);
liberos: Tino Busak Vidakovic ("Mursa-Osijek" Croatia), Hrvoe Pervan ("HAOK Mladost");
the opposites: Petar Dirlić (Milan, Italy), Tomislav Mitrasinović (Calcit Kamnik, Slovenia), Gabrijel Cvanciger (HAOK Mladost, Croatia;)
outside hitters: Ante Kulushic (Mladost, Croatia), Tino Hanzic (Santa Croce, Italy), Ivan Zelkovich (HAOK Mladost, Croatia);
middle blockers: Stipe Perich ("Harlasco" Italy), Kruno Nikachevic ("Dukla" Czech Republic), Dominik Brchych, Ivan Michal ("CSKA Sofia" Bulgaria).
The composition of the national team of Ukraine:
setters: Vitalii Shchytkov (VC "Prometey"), Yurii Sinytsia ("Develi" Turkey);
outside hitters: Oleh Plotnytskyi ("Perugia" Italy), Tymofii Poluian ("Akkus Bld" Turkey), Vitalii Kucher ("Barkom-Kazhany"), Illia Kovalov ("Kuprum" Poland);
liberos: Oleksandr Boiko (VC "Prometey"), Dmytro Kanaiev ("Barkom-Kazhany");
middle blockers: Maksym Drozd ("Epicenter-Podolyanyi"), Yurii Semeniuk ("Project Warsaw" Poland), Dmytro Teromenko ("Tours" France), Vladyslav Shchurov ("Barkom-Kazhany");
the opposite: Vasyl Tupchii ("Barkom-Kazhany"), Yevhenii Kisiliuk ("Epicenter-Podolyany").
The way to the "Final Four"
Uģis Krastiņš's team won all six matches with the maximum possible result - 3:0. The opponents of the Ukrainians were North Macedonia, Belgium, and Croatia.
The Croatians have won only two in the last two home rounds – over North Macedonia (3:2) and Belgium (3:1).
1 round
Ukraine - North Macedonia - 3:0 (25:21, 25:22, 25:11)
Belgium - Croatia - 3:1 (25:17, 25:21, 23:25, 25:23)
2nd round
Ukraine - Croatia - 3:0 (25:19, 25:18, 25:19)
North Macedonia - Belgium - 3:1 (25:21, 25:23, 17:25, 25:21)
3rd round
Belgium - Ukraine - 0:3 (21:25, 21:25, 23:25)
North Macedonia - Croatia - 3:2 (25:17, 25:22, 22:25, 29:31, 16:14)
4th round
Croatia - Ukraine - 0:3 (17:25, 21:25, 22:25)
Belgium - North Macedonia - 3:0 (27:25, 25:23, 26:24)
5th round
Ukraine - Belgium - 3:0 (25:21, 25:14, 25:13)
Croatia - North Macedonia - 3:2 (20:25, 25:17, 25:23, 15:25, 15:13)
6th round
North Macedonia - Ukraine - 0:3 (18:25, 24:26, 23:25)
Croatia - Belgium - 3:1 (25:22, 25:20, 23:25, 25:21)
History of the meetings
In 2022, in the group round of the European Golden League, the team of Uģis Krastiņš was twice stronger than the Croatians (3:1 and 3:1). However, it was Croatia that did not allow the Ukrainians to win the bronze awards of that year's draw of the tournament. Then, in the match for third place, the Croats defeated our team with a score of 3:2.
This year, at the group stage, Ukrainian volleyball players were already stronger (3:0 and 3:0).
Ranking of teams
Croatia ranks 36th in the world ranking, and 19th in the European ranking. Ukraine ranks 15th in the world ranking, and 9th in the European ranking.
We would like to remind you that the winner of the European League will receive 125 thousand euros. In addition, the finalists of the tournament will become participants in the Challenger Cup - a qualifying tournament for the Nations League-2024.
The winners of the European League at different times were the Czech Republic (2004, 2022), russia (2005), the Netherlands (2006, 2012), Spain (2007), Slovakia (2008, 2011), Germany (2009), Portugal (2012), Montenegro (2014), Slovenia (2015), Estonia (2016, 2018), Ukraine (2017) and Turkey (2019, 2021).
European Golden League-2023. Final four. Semifinal
June 24, Saturday
21:00 Croatia - Ukraine
Watch the online broadcast of the match Croatia - Ukraine on June 24 at 21:00 on the YouTube channel DIVISPORT.
