EuroVolley mania can start – title holder France favorite! (PREVIEW & SCHEDULE)

Many volleyball experts, players, fans and even bookmakers see the French national team as the number 1 favorite for winning the gold medal. It may be, but we all know that the favorites have failed many times to make a success because they were under a constant pressure.

When we take a look from a different point of view, we see one team that have made only a few changes compared to the last European Championship in 2015. Antonin Rouzier has retired but Stephen Boyer has managed to replace him in a good way and to become one of the best players in the squad.

There are some changes at the position of middle blocker and receiver, but Nicholas Le Goff is still there, as well as Kevin Tillie.

France

Starting line-up 2015: Toniutti (setter), Rouzier (opposite), Le Roux-Le Goff (middle blockers), Ngapeth – Tillie (receivers), Grebennikov (Libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Toniutti (setter), Boyer (opposite), Le Roux – Chinenyeze (middle blockers), Ngapeth – Clevenot (receivers), Grebennikov (libero)

This is the main reason why those people see them as favorites. These are all quality players, playing together for the fourth year in a row. Only Kevin Tillie had some problems with the injury, other players are fully fit and ready for EuroVolley.

Slovenia

Slovenia, the vice-champions from 2015 EuroVolley, would be in the same position as France regarding the roster if there was not a huge injury blow. They will play without Klemen Cebulj at this tournament.

Starting line-up 2015: Vincic (setter), Gasparini (opposite), Pajenk – Kozamernik (middle blockers), Urnaut – Cebulj (receivers), Kovacic (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Vincic (setter), Gasparini (opposite), Pajenk – Kozamernik (middle blockers), Urnaut – Sket (receivers), Kovacic (libero)

Poland

Poland will have an advantage at this tournament as they will play in front of their fans. Their fans expect at least the medal. There are some changes for this EuroVolley – Kurek will move to the position of the receiver, while Lemanski will take the place of Klos.

Starting line-up 2015: Drzyzga (setter), Kurek (opposite), Bieniek – Klos (middle blockers), Kubiak – Mika (receivers), Zatorski (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Drzyzga (setter), Konarski (opposite), Bieniek – Lemanski (middle blockers), Kubiak – Kurek (receivers), Zatorski (libero)

Serbia

Marko Ivovic, a very important player of the Serbian team, picked up an injury during the friendly game against Slovenia and the head coach of Serbia Nikola Grbic had no choice but to remove his name from the list. There are some changes as well.

Starting line-up 2015: Jovovic (setter), Atanasijevic (opposite), Podrascanin – Stankovic (middle blockers), N. Kovacevic – Petric (receivers), Rosic (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Jovovic (setter), Atanasijevic (opposite), Podrascanin – Lisinac (middle blockers), U. Kovacevic – Petric (receivers), Majstorovic (libero)

Russia

What could we expect from Russia? They are always aiming the gold, especially when Maxim Mikhailov is in the squad. There won’t be the first star Dmitry Muserskiy, but Russia have a few more quality blockers.

Starting line-up 2015: Kovalev (setter), Mikhailov (opposite), Muserskiy – Volvich (middle blockers), Kliuka – Sivozhelez (receivers), Verbov (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Butko (setter), Mikhailov (opposite), Aschev – Kurkaev (middle blockers), Kliuka – Volkov (receivers), Martinyuk (libero)

Do you know how many stars will miss the EuroVolley?

Italy

Ivan Zaytsev, Osmany Juantorena…These two players were the most important players of this team in previous two years and now they are not with the national team. That’s why Italy are not among top three favorites. However, Blengini has found some solution for their absence:

Starting line-up 2015: Giannelli (setter), Zaytsev (opposite), Buti – Piano (middle blockers), Juantorena – Lanza (receivers), Rossini (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Giannelli (setter), Sabbi (opposite), Buti – Mazzone (middle blockers), Lanza – Antonov (receivers), Colaci (libero)

Bulgaria

Vladimir Nikolov was one of the best players of Bulgaria at the last European Championship. His replacement will be – Tsvetan Sokolov. Is it a better solution? The upcoming games will show it. Lube’s star is in shape and Konstantinov sees him as a big leader of this team.

Starting line-up 2015: Bratoev (setter), Nikolov (opposite), Yosifov – Todorov (middle blockers), Penchev – Aleksiev (receivers), Salparov (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Bratoev (setter), Sokolov (opposite), Yosifov – Todorov (middle blockers),  Penchev – Aleksiev (receivers), Salparov (libero)

Germany

Germany don’t have too many changes compared to the last European Championship. Of course, the new head coach Andrea Giani is at the helm of the team and he has to play this EuroVolley without Jochen Schops.

Starting line-up 2015: Kampa (setters), Grozer (opposites), Andrei – Bohme (middle blockers), Fromm – Kaliberda (receivers), Steuerwald (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Kampa (setters), Grozer (opposites), Andrei – Bohme (middle blockers), Fromm – Kaliberda (receivers), Karlitzek (libero)

Belgium

Vital Heynen will lead again one national team at the EuroVolley tournament. In the previous edition, he was the head coach of Germany and now he is the coach of Belgium.

Starting line-up 2015: Valkiers (setter), Van den Dries (opposite), Van De Voorde – Verhees (middle blockers), Deroo – Rousseaux (receivers), Dejonckheere (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Valkiers (setter), Van den Dries (opposite), Van De Voorde – Verhees (middle blockers), Deroo – Rousseaux (receivers), Ribbens (libero)

The Netherlands

The biggest change in the Netherlands is moving Nimir Abdelaziz from setter to position of the opposite. Actually, he has changed the position last year and he was good enough to be called up for the international duty as the opposite.

Starting line-up 2015: Abdelaziz (setter), Kay van Dijk (opposite), Difenbach – Bontje (middle blockers), Rauwedink – Kooy (receivers), Gijs (libero)

Starting line-up 2017: Daan Van Haarlem (setter), Abdelaziz (opposite), Difenbach – Koelewijn (middle blockers), Rauwedink – Ter Horst (receivers), Gijs (libero)

The other six teams are considered for underdogs. They have small chances to reach the medal, but this is just a sport and everything is possible.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE:

Pool A:

Finland – Estonia 17:30 CET

Poland – Serbia 20:30 CET

Pool C:

Bulgaria – Russia 17:30 CET

Spain – Slovenia 20:30 CET

Check out the rosters of all teams at the European Championship 2017. Follow also our EuroVolley Live Blog.

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