Paris (AFP)
Italy, France and Russia managed to compete in the European Men's Volleyball Championship on Thursday in Montpellier and Ljubljana, with relatively easy wins against Portugal, Romania and Turkey respectively.
In this first Euro played to 24 nations, the first four of the four groups played in France (Montpellier), Slovenia (Ljubljana), Belgium (Brussels and Antwerp) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam and Rotterdam) qualify for the 8th finals .
In Ljubljana, Russia gave a set to Turkey, nothing alarming for the doubles champions of the League of Nations (2018 and 2019), winners 3 sets to 1 and who are favorites of the competition behind Poland, double world champion in title (2014 and 2018).
For the first place in their group, the Russians will be wary of Slovenian hosts, who have not dropped any set against Belarus (25-17, 25-14, 25-19) Thursday night.
In Montpellier, French and Italians benefited from a warm-up lap, respectively against Romania (25-19, 25-14, 25-16) and against Portugal (25-21, 25-10, 25-22).
Unless surprise, the first place of the group should be played between France, Italy and Bulgaria, who did not do in detail to get rid of Greece Thursday mid-afternoon (25-22, 25-16, 25-20).
On Friday, the other two groups will start their Euro: in Belgium, including Serbia and Germany, and the Netherlands, with Dutch hosts and Poles.
© 2019 AFP