Pool C Preview: Big favourites Poland aim for a flawless start

There is undoubtedly one big favourite in Pool C at the CEV EuroVolley 2023 Men and that is Poland, the winners of the competition in 2009 and a three-time bronze medalist in the last six editions, in 2011, 2019 and 2021.

In the past two editions, Poland have always arrived as one of the top favourites, but each time conceded losses in the semi-finals, first against Slovenia, in 2019, 1:3, and then against the same Slovenia side, with the same scoreline, 1:3, at home in the Spodek in Katowice.

In fact, Poland have won 18 of the past 21 matches in the European premium competition and since 2015, they have not lost a single game against other opponent than Slovenia, boding well for their challenge in this group.

However, Poland have had their share of success in both club and the national team level in 2023, as their teams had a superb summer, which the European powerhouse hopes to extend at the CEV EuroVolley 2023 Men. Two Polish side competed for the trophy in the CEV Champions League Volley Super Finals, with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle taking a dramatic 3:2 win against Jastrzębski Węgiel.

Then, Poland secured their maiden win in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League, after taking a 3:1 win in the final against the United States of America, with seven players from ZAKSA and Jastrzębski filling that squad.

While they will not have the home court advantage this time, Poland are surely aiming to capitalise on those succeses, being clear favourites against the Netherlands, Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia and Montenegro in Pool C, with anything but a first place for the European powerhouse being a huge shock.

The Boris Trajkovski Sports Center in Skopje will be the host of the group and the home fans should help North Macedonia improve their record at the CEV EuroVolley Men, where they have won only two out of their first 10 matches, wins against Belarus and Slovenia in 2019.

In the last edition, the co-hosts conceded five losses against the Netherlands, Russia, Türkiye, Finland and Spain, winning only two sets, as they were dominated by the Dutch side, which delivered a 3:0 win in the mutual game, a result which they aim to repeat here too.

Another side which is eager to improve their form at the CEV EuroVolley Men is Montenegro, which has only two wins in their 10 matches played in the European premium competition, one of them coming against Czechia, their opponents in this group, in 2019.

However, in the past edition of the CEV EuroVolley Men, Montenegro have conceded five losses on the trot, each in straight sets, including a loss against Czechia, 28:30, 23:25, 10:25, as they still search for their first win in four years.

Whether that will come or not, it is still to be seen, but Montenegro will start as the underdog against most of the opponents, including Denmark, which will be making their first appearance since 2013, when they won a single game out of the four they played. 

The lack of experience might be the undoing of the Scandinavian side, which is still aiming for a knockout phase berth, in a battle which looks definitely fiery, with co-hosts North Macedonia and Montenegro each striving to get their best during the matches they play in Skopje.

On the other hand, the Netherlands are featuring for the sixth consecutive time in the European top competition and for the 27th time in total, after an excellent appearance in 2021, when they ended up on the fifth place.

While the Dutch side might become the first team in history to concede 100 losses – they are currently on 99 – they are still one of the dark horses of the competition, boasting both the experience and the depth needed to make another long run, aiming to snatch their first medal since 1997, when they became champions for the first time, ending a five-tournament run with a medal.