EuroVolleyM 2023: Slovenia still on track for gold medal

Approaching EuroVolley 2023, powerhouse Slovenia is again among the top teams of the tournament, looking out for the gold medal they missed for three times in Final since 2015

Slovenia is a long time contender for gold in last top championships in the world, but never won a Title, despite the terrific effort they made and the great volleyball they played in every single tournament.

A bunch of finals lost for Slovenia in last decade, but despite the change of generation and all the disappointments for the losses, Slovenia remains over the years one of the top teams of European Volleyball.

In this upcoming EuroVolley 2023 Gheorghe Cretu’s team will try to take advantage of the experiences in last big tournaments and finally stepping on the top step of the podium and win the European Title.

They have everything to win, they are talented, experienced and focused.

Slovenia lost the Gold Medal match at three of the last four European Championships: against France in 2015 (0-3), Serbia in 2019 (1-3) and Italy in 2021 (2-3).

The loss versus the Azzurri in EuroVolley 2021 final was a bloody one, in front 2-1 Slovenia suffered the Italian comeback in fourth and fifth, losing 2-3 the Title, after Slovenians clinche the Big Final spot stunning home team Poland in an infinite Semifinal, finished 37-35 in favour of Slovenia at tie break.

The Slovenians will compete in Pool B in Verna (BUL), versus the home team Bulgaria, Spain, Finland, Croatia and Ukraine, debuting in the tournament versus the Ukrainians on 30th August, playing them for the first time at the European Championships.

All the other teams can be outsider, but Slovenia is the real favourite for the first place in the Pool.

At last Volleyball Nations League last July, Slovenia has been eliminated 0-3 in Quarter-Finals by Japan, missing the top four placings in VNL. Best scorer for Slovenia was outside spiker Tine Urnaut with 186 points, second best was Klemen Cebulj with 172.

So the old guard of Slovenia was once again the most important part of silver medallist at EuroVolley 2021.

They have a lot of veterans in the roster, as outside spikers Tine Urnaut (captain) and Klemen Cebulj, middle blocker Alen Pajenk and libero Jani Kovacic, all players who played dozens of battles on the court, together with outside spiker Rok Mozic, middle blocker Jan Kozamernik and setter Uros Planinsic, all part of a strong and unite group who’s can really make the difference in this upcoming Euro tournament.. 

Slovenia played last weekend at the Wagner Memorial in Poland, finishing with two wins and one loss, wins over Poland and Italy, and loss versus France, warming up in the best way with tough test matches approaching EuroVolley. 

The right mix of experience and talent for the Slovenians, all together focused on one main target, the Gold Medal.