Sweden vs. Ukraine
Ukraine beat Sweden in the first thrilling semi-final of the 14th edition of the Men’s European League, which also serves as a qualifying tournament for the World League (placing the winner in Group 3), in Gentofte, Denmark, 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 22-25, 18-16). It was a duel of the two teams deprived of help of their most effective players in the tournament due to various reasons, including injuries – Swedish NT missed receiver Fredrik Gustavsson (Team Lakkapää, Finland), While Ukraine had to play without receiver Vasyl Tupchii (Nice Volley-Ball, France). In addition, the Scandinavian side could not count on Marcus Nilsson, the new opposite of the Russian Zenit Sankt Peterburg, from the beginning of the tournament.
Ukraine had five players with double digits as Maksym Drozd (middle blocker of national champions Lokomotiv Kharkiv) scored 20 points. In Sweden, a 20-year-old opposite from Italian Kioene Padova, Jacob Link, noted 24.
Denmark vs. FYRO Macedonia
The second semi-final between the Final Four hosts Denmark and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was nothing less than exciting. Unfortunately for the fans in “Gentoftehallen”, the Eastern European country amazingly recovered as they were 2-0 down in sets to go to their third consecutive final of the tournament (losing both previously). The MVP of the Japanese league last season, opposite Nikola Gjorgiev (moved to Polish ONICO AZS Politechnika Warszawska this summer), led Macedonians with 26 points, sharing the best scorer of the game title with the Danish opposite Peter Trolle Bonnesen of Gentofte Volley.
The final match between Ukraine and Macedonia is scheduled for today at 19:00 CET.
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