Macedonian national team gathers in Kruševo to start EuroVolley preparations

The men’s national team of North Macedonia gathered on Thursday at Hotel Montana in Kruševo, thereby marking the start of their preparations for the CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026.

With the exception of middle blocker Filip Savovski, who was due to join the group later in the day, all other national team players attended head coach Josko Milenkoski’s first team meeting. The experienced Aleksandar Ljaftov, who missed the CEV European League 2026 due to an ankle ligament injury, has returned to the group. The head coach opened the preparations by presenting statistics and data from the team’s preparations for EuroVolley 2023, emphasising that he would demand seriousness and discipline, while announcing an intensive training schedule.

“My methodology and approach are well known to each and every one of you. I expect a professional attitude, seriousness and commitment. We are here to achieve a result, which means that everything else must be secondary and our entire focus must be on Volleyball. We will have the responsibility to go through all the information once again, so that there is no misunderstanding regarding our system, tactics and discipline. Everything that defines our game must be reaffirmed and further developed. We will not go to the European Championship as outsiders. We have a clear goal of achieving a result, and there are certain national teams that we will pay particular attention to during the preparations,” Milenkoski said when welcoming the team, adding: “We have 35 days until the start of the European Championship, so we will work at an accelerated pace, but with carefully controlled intensity, and I believe we will get to the championship fully prepared.”

The national team was also welcomed in Kruševo by Federation Vice-President Ivica Hadži Iljoski and Secretary General Filip Despotovski. “Welcome, and thank you for accepting the call-up. It is particularly pleasing to see that the team has remained together in the same composition, that Milenkoski, our most decorated coach, will lead us at another European Championship, and that we have maintained our unity and cohesion. We are realistic, we have no illusions, and we are fully aware of the strength of the opponents we will face at the European Championship. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope for success and believe that if we are given an opportunity to advance to the second stage, we will take it. This team has experience and knows very well what it means to play at a European Championship, which is why I have no doubt that each of you will give your maximum. I wish you successful preparations and, above all, good health so that you all reach the start of the European Championship ready to compete,” Vice-President Hadži Iljoski emphasised.

The Macedonian national team will be part of Pool B in Sofia along with co-hosts Bulgaria, as well as the national teams of Poland, Ukraine, Portugal, and Israel.

The men’s national team will participate in the premier continental competition for the fourth time in a row following their historic debut in 2019.