Netherlands – team
The Dutch team was assigned to Pool B together with Ukraine, Denmark and Greece. A week after the tournament in Apeldoorn the teams play another round robin in Yuzhny, Ukraine. After these two tournaments the winner qualifies directly for the European Championship. The team that finishes second in the group gets a second chance in May 2013. The Netherlands have the highest world ranking among the teams included in group B and would in theory be able to qualify directly.
“The goal is to finish first in the Pool and I think we are able to do so” Gido Vermeulen explains. “Denmark is clearly the weakest country in the group. Against Greece we have played this year four times and we won all these games”. Vermeulen expects the most difficult challenge to come from Ukraine. “That’s a good Volleyball country and a dangerous opponent. They also participated in the final round of the 2011 European Championship”.
Vermeulen is very pleased with the fact that the first qualifying tournament will be played in Apeldoorn. Playing the European Championship is one of the main aims of the ambitious coach and is essential for the development of his new team. The home advantage therefore comes in handy. “It is certainly important that we play these games in our own country,” he says. “That gives an extra dimension and provides an incentive for the team”.
The coach looks even further into the future. “The Dutch Volleyball Federation (Nevobo) is applying to host the European Championship in 2015. For this reason it is particularly important that we show that we can organize a professional tournament. Apeldoorn is a proposed venue for 2015, so this will be a good test”.
