Bulgaria´s Tsvetan Sokolov and his teammates
The tournament, originally scheduled in Verona, Italy, has been moved by the FIVB to Sofia after Mauro Berruto’s “Azzurri” qualified through the European qualification. Bulgaria, Egypt, France and Pakistan will start playing on Friday having Earls Court as a common goal.
Bulgaria have the biggest pressure upon their shoulders, after having fail the Continental Qualification at home in May. France missed the appointment with Beijing 2008 and they do not want to waste this final possibility. Both teams are now competing in the World League with a 2-1 win-loss record. The African Champions from Egypt have well in mind their eleventh place in Beijing while preparing for this battle to renew an Olympic presence. World No. 43 Pakistan are the outsiders of the competition, ranked No. 7 in the 2011 AVC Asian Men’s Championship and 10th at the 2010 Asian Games.
The international volleyball lights will not be switched off for weeks in Arena Armeec, since it has recently hosted the CEV Men’s Continental Olympic Qualification and it is set to be the playing court of the last World League appointment for Pool D and the World League Finals, July 4–8.
