On September 11, at 17:30 Kyiv time, the 1/4 final match of the European Volleyball Championship 2023 will take place. The men's national team of Ukraine will play against Slovenia.
Rosters of the teams
Slovenia is a team that has finished the last two European Championships with silver medals (2019 and 2021).
Slovenians are a national team that shows its fighting character in every match. Even if it doesn't decide anything. Let's recall the last match of the group round against the Bulgarian team. Gheorghe Crețu could send a non-main team to the court, giving his leaders a little rest, "giving away" the game, and at the same time maintaining the leadership positions. But... they fought for every point and beat the home team in a tough match, earning a few more rating points for themselves.
Slovenia is a team that plays without a nominal opposite player. This role was taken over by outside hitter Rok Mozic. It is seen, that sometimes he is not used to it, but still, he does everything for the victory of his team. By the way, now he is the most productive player on his team. Mozic scored 95 points in 6 matches.
Slovenia
setters: Uros Planinsic ("Calcit" Slovenia), Gregor Ropret ("Perugia" Italy);
Outside hitters: Rok Bracko ("Merkur Maribor" Slovenia), Ziga Stern ("Slepsk Suwalki" Poland), Klemen Cebulj ("Resovia" Poland), Tine Urnaut ("JTEKT Stings" Japan), Rok Mozic ("Verona" Italy") ;
liberos: Urban Toman (Arcade Galati, Romania), Jani Kovacic (Ljubljana, Slovenia);
middle blockers: Alen Pajenk (Olympiakos, Greece), Jan Kozamernik (Trentino, Italy), Saso Stalekar (Berlin, Germany), Danijel Koncilja (Ljubljana, Slovenia);
opposites: Nik Mujanovic ("Calcit" Slovenia).
Head coach: Gheorghe Crețu (Romania).
Ukraine
setters: Serhii Yevstratov (VC "Prometey"*), Yurii Synytsia;
outside hitters: Oleh Plotnytskyi ("Perugia" Italy), Tymofii Poluian ("Milon" Greece), Vitalii Kucher ("Barkom-Kazhany"), Illia Kovalov ("Barkom-Kazhany");
liberos: Oleksandr Boiko (VC "Prometey"), Dmytro Kanaiev ("Barkom-Kazhany");
middle blockers: Yurii Semeniuk, Vladyslav Shchurov (“Barkom-Kazhany”), Bohdan Mazenko (“Barkom-Kazhany”), Volodymyr Ostapenko (“Epicenter-Podolyany”);
opposites: Vasyl Tupchii (“Barkom-Kazhany”), Yevhenii Kisiliuk (“Epicenter-Podolyany”).
Head coach: Uģis Krastiņš (Latvia).
Previous matches
At the World Cup 2022, it was the Slovenian national team that stood in the way of the Ukrainians getting to the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament (1:3).
And a week ago, Ukraine and Slovenia met in the group stage. Then the Slovenians beat us with a score of 3:1.
The path on the Euro-2023
Slovenia went through the group stage undefeated, losing only one set to the Ukrainians at the start of the tournament. Gheorghe Cretu's team defeated Ukraine (3:1), Finland (3:0), Spain (3:0), Croatia (3:0) and Bulgaria (3:0). In the first playoff match, the Slovenians defeated Turkey (3:2) on a tie-break.
The Ukrainian national team lost to Slovenia (1:3), Croatia (2:3), and Bulgaria (1:3). In the last two matches, the wards of Ugis Krastinš pleased their fans with victories over Finland (3:2) and Spain (3:0). In the round of 16, the Ukrainians were stronger than Portugal (3:0).
Ranking of the teams
The Slovenian national team ranks 5th in the European ranking and 8th in the world.
Instead, Ukraine is now ranked eighth in Europe and 14th in the world.
European Championship-2023. Playoffs. 1/4 of the final
September 11 (Monday)
17:30 Slovenia - Ukraine
Watch the online broadcast of the match Slovenia - Ukraine on September 11 at 17:30 on the YouTube channel DIVISPORT.
