Russia has finally shown the face that resembles the team of such renown, beating Finland in its third match at the 2021 CEV Men’s Volleyball European Championship.
Russia, we will remind again, came to CEV Men’s EuroVolley 2021 without several big names, but unlike the two previous matches after which it has 1-1, it finally showed the face that resembles the team of such renown. ‘Zbornaya’ beat the Pool C’s host Finland in Tampere. It lost the opening set but then trampled over the neighbor in the next three, partially 22-25, 25-15, 25-23, and 25-17, being top-scored by Egor Kliuka (18 points). Antti Ronkainen notched 15 for the Nordic nation. It should be mentioned that Finland has not taken down Russia in 11 years.
Whoever questioned the ability of France to recover both physically and mentally less than a month after the unique emotions experienced in winning the Tokyo Olympics was wrong. For now. ‘Les Bleus’ are responding to challenges in EuroVolley with ease, achieving another straight-set triumph, this time against Croatia in Pool D in Tallinn (Estonia). Jean Patry led the Olympic champion with 13 points. Jénia Grebennikov had 92 % reception (12 digs, 42 % excellent), while Trévor Clévenot made 75 % attack (12/16, one error). Leo Andrić scored 16 points for Croatia. Ivan Zeljković made 77 % reception (22 digs, 50 % excellent).
