Latvia beat Moldova 3-0 (25:22, 25:17, 25:22) in the subgroup game, thus retaining the first place in the group before the last two games.
–
In today’s game against Moldova on the field in the ranks of the Latvian national team, the builder Petrovs also went to the main line-up, playing his 66th official match in the ranks of the national team and becoming the richest player of the Latvian national team. With this game, he overtook the current leader Uģis Krastiņš, who had accumulated 65 official games played in the national team.
–
In the first round, Latvia beat Moldova 3-0, 1-3 lost to Spain and defeated Cyprus 3-0. Moldova defeated Cyprus 3-0 in the second match, but surprisingly beat Spain 3-1 in the third match.
–
In group D, the leader with nine points in four games is Latvia, followed by Spain and Moldova with six points and three fights, while Cyprus is in the beige.
–
On Saturday, Latvia will fight with Spain, and on Sunday – with Cyprus.
–
Latvia has managed to qualify for the final tournament in 1995, but Avo Kēl with the Estonian national team – twice. Led by head coach Keh, this is the second attempt for Latvians to enter the European Championship final.
–
In 2019, both the Latvian and Moldovan national teams participated in the European Championship qualification tournament, but none of the teams managed to reach the final tournament.
–
Moldova played in Subgroup C with Iceland, Slovakia and Montenegro, making three successes in six dues. However, this was not enough to take the second place, which would guarantee participation in the final tournament.
–
Meanwhile, Latvians in subgroup B played together with the Estonians and the Israeli national unit. The only victory in the last match was won over the Israelis, but the subgroup had to settle for the last, third, position.
–
Even before leaving for Cyprus, the Latvian national team in Estonia held three test matches with the local national team, failing in all dues. Duels with the Polish team “Radrad Enea Czarni” in Radom were also planned, but they had to be canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
–
The European Championship qualifying tournament in Group D will take place in the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, where the two-round matches will take place from 30 August to 6 September. In addition to Latvia and hostess Cyprus, Spain and Moldova will also take part in it.
–
The qualifying tournament for the European Championship in Group D will be the only one in which both rings will be played at once in one country, and the only one that will be played in late August and early September, with the other groups finishing in January next year.
–
The final tournament is scheduled for August and September 2021 in Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland and Estonia. Four home teams and the top eight teams from previous European Championships in Serbia, Slovenia, France, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Germany and Belgium have already secured a place in the top 24 teams in Europe in the final tournament. The remaining 12 places in the final tournament will be taken by the winners of seven groups and the five best second place winners.
–
Composition of the Latvian volleyball team:
–
builders – Deniss Petrovs (Nizhny Novgorod ASK, Russia), Edvin Skruder (Jekabpils “Lynx”);
–
second tempo – Romans Saušs (“Argo de Sete”, France), Kristaps Šmits (“Limbaži” / MSĢ), Atvars Ozoliņš (“Parnu”, Estonia), Markuss Cielavs (“Savo Volley”, Finland);
–
diagonal – Hermans Egleskalns (Piraeus “Olympiakos”, Greece), Edward Buvids (Amrisville “LINDAREN Volley I”, Switzerland), Kristaps Platačs (“Parnu”, Estonia), Renārs Jansons (RTU / “Border Guard”);
–
first tempo – Toms Švans (“Parnu”, Estonia), Vladislavs Blumbergs, Zigurds Adamovičs (both – Jēkabpils “Lūši”);
–
libero – Ingars Ivanovs (RTU / “Border Guard”).
— .
