Combination of youth and experience behind the success of Montengro; Denmark upset Turkey
Story of the day
#EuroVolleyM Qualifiers continued on Sunday with four remaining matches of Leg 4. The game between Montenegro and Iceland at Digranes KOPAVOGUR in Pool D was one of the highlights of the day. The national team of Montenegro stay undefeated and after earning their fourth victory in this campaign they made another important step towards #EuroVolleyM 2023. However, it was the game between Denmark and Turkey that delivered the most surprising result.
The team under the guidance of coach Ivan Joksimovic proves to be a solid combination of experience and youth and it seems to be a key to their success in this campaign. The team captain Aleksandar Minic, and outside hitter Marko Boijc are among the most experienced players in the rooster. But next to them there are also youngsters, like not even 19-year-old middle blocker Matija Ćinćur, 18-year-old setter Rastko Milenkovic and outside 22-year-old outside spiker Benjamin Hadzislalihovic, who know well how to help their team. In the match against Iceland, Ćinćur and Hadzislalihovic contributed with six and five points, respectively.
Although the Scandinavian team in front of the home crowd tried their best in the clash against Montenegro - pre-favourite of Pool D next to Portugal - they couldn't find a way to stop the visiting side. The Montenegrin team, powered by Bojan Strugar, who already at the beginning of the opening set showed his teeth - with him on the serving line Montenegro scored five consecutive points, proved better in all components. A 27-year-old opposite and the best scorer of the Swiss League topped the scorers chart also in this encounter. Strugar tallied 16 points, including 13 kills, 2 blocks and 1 ace. Montenegro have a clear goal this summer, to secure their third straight participation in Europe’s prime Volleyball competition and they are definitely on the right track. Ahead of them there are two more games - against Portugal on Wednesday and Luxembourg on Saturday.
The battle between Denmark and Turkey was the one to deliver the most unexpected result so far in the Qualifiers. Denmark, the winner of the European Silver League 2021, upset Turkey in Pool A. The Danish team on home soil at Lillebeltshallen MIDDELFART prevailed in a nail-biting five-setter after 121 minutes of game. 22-year-old Oskar Madsen became the leader of the home side, scoring as many as 19 points. One more than Turkish star Adis Lagumdzija.
In Pool E, despite a turbulent journey to Norway, Croatia earned an important straight-set win over the hosts. In the closing match of Leg 4, Finland and Austria battled it out in an exciting five-setter. At the decisive moment, Finland found their way to grab their third win and strengthen their leadership in Pool B.
