On August 31, at 17:30 Kyiv time, the second match of the men's national team of Ukraine will take place within the group round of the European Championship 2023.
Previous matches
In 2022, in the group round of the European Golden League, the wards of Ugis Krastinš were stronger than the Croatians in two matches (3:1 and 3:1). However, then Croatia took revenge and 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 stronger (3:0 and 3:0). And in the semifinals of the European Golden League-2023, they again beat the Croats (3:1).
However, a slightly different team came to the championship of the continent.
Rosters of the teams
Croatia
The opposite Ivan Raich, well-known to Ukrainian fans, returned to the national team, in the 2022-2023 season and played for "Epicenter-Podolyany" from the city of Horodok.
setters: Timofey Zhukovsky ("Nysa" Poland), Bernard Bakonzhi ("Unicaha" Spain);
liberos: Hrvoje Pervan (HAOK Mladost), Ivan Zeljkovic (HAOK Mladost, Croatia);
opposites: Petar Dirlic ("Milan" Italy), Ivan Raich ("Epicenter-Podolyany" Ukraine);
outside hitters: Tino Hanzic ("Santa Croce" Italy), Marko Sedlacek ("Jastrzembski" Poland), Philip Shestan ("Chaumont" France), Marino Marelic ("Karlovarsko" Czech Republic);
middle blockers: Stipe Peric ("Harlasco" Italy), Kruno Nikachevic ("Dukla" Czech Republic), Sven Jakopec ("Haok" Croatia), Ivan Michal ("CSKA Sofia" Bulgaria).
Head coach: Cedric Enard.
Ukraine
setters: Serhii Yevstratov (VC "Prometey"*), Yurii Synytsia;
outside hitters: Oleg Plotnytskyi ("Perugia" Italy), Timofii 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");
the opposites: Vasyl Tupchii ("Barkom-Kazhany"), Yevhenii Kisilyuk ("Epicenter-Podolyany").
Head coach: Uģis Krastiņš (Latvia).
Ranking of the teams
The national team of Croatia ranks 16th in the European ranking and 32nd in the world. Meanwhile, Ukraine is now ranked eighth in Europe and 13th in the world.
European Championship-2023. Group round. Group B. Second match
August 31, Thursday
17:30 Ukraine - Croatia
Watch the online broadcast of the match between Croatia and Ukraine on August 31 at 17:30 on the YouTube channel DIVISPORT.
