#EuroVolleyW Qualifiers Preview Pools D-F

One more day to go until the start of the big show in the 2023 #EuroVolleyW Qualifiers! Warming up with the battles in the Men’s Qualifiers that started earlier this month, the European national women’s teams who haven’t secured yet their place at the Final Round of Europe’s top competition, are already eager to start their road to the much coveted tickets that will give them the chance to fight next year for the ultimate goal.

Formula 

24 teams are entering the courts this weekend, fighting for 12 remaining tickets (12 teams have already secured their spots at the Final stage - the four co-host countries Italy, Belgium and Estonia, and the top eight teams from #EuroVolleyW 2021).

The remaining spots available will be distributed between the teams entering the Qualifiers battles - as the 12 best placed of all pools will qualify.

The games will be played throughout six legs, taking place from August 20 to September 11.

Pool D 

Austria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Slovenia

From this group of teams, only Azerbaijan had an appearance in the last edition of EuroVolley. However, they could improve a lot if they qualify again for the Final Round, since in 2021 they finished on the last 24th position. Margarita (Marharyta) Stepanenko was the best scorer for her team back in 2021. Twice in their Volleyball history, did Azerbaijan almost reach the podium of EuroVolley - in 2005 and in 2017 they finished fourth. 

Austria is one of the teams who have showed consistency in qualifying for the Final Round of the European Championship, however, they were never able to get closer to the strongest teams, meaning that there is always room for improvement for them, given that they do secure a spot at 2023 #EuroVolleyW. 

While the men’s national team of Slovenia has become one of the most powerful squads in the past decade, the women’s have a long road ahead of them if they want to follow in the steps of their compatriots. The Slovenian team did not participate in the last edition of EuroVolley, and actually, they have made it to the final stage only in 2015 and 2019. 

Georgia have been part of the ultimate Volleyball show only once - back in 2017 when they co-hosted the CEV EuroVolley Women together with Azerbaijan. However, this did not help them to deliver any big surprises, as they finished on the last, 16th position.

Pool E

Denmark, Latvia, Slovakia, Spain

Slovakia and Spain are the two teams in this group that participated in the 2021 #EuroVolleyW. Slovakia took the 17th place, while Spain finished 20th. Both teams count on some young and promising players, who could help them achieve the main goal this summer - booking a ticket to 2023 EuroVolley. Spain’s best ranking so far at an European Championship is 9th place back in 2009, while for Slovakia it was the 11th place in 2003.

Denmark and Latvia did not participate in the last edition of EuroVolley. Denmark’s best achievement so far is dated back in 1963 when they finished 13th, while Latvia’s best performance was back in 1997 when they secured the 8th position.

Pool F

Bosnia&Herzegovina, Greece, Norway, Switzerland

Pool F is the group where three of the teams did participate in EuroVolley 2021. Bosnia&Herzegovina are the team that finished on a high note (19th place), Switzerland locked the 21st position, followed by Greece (22nd). The Bosnian team are also the 2021 CEV Volleyball European Silver League winners, and could be considered the favourites in this pool.

Norway are the clear underdogs in the group, as, historically, they have never made it to the Final Round of the EuroVolley, meaning that qualifying for the 2023 edition of the competition will be a huge success for them. 

Follow the action in #EuroVolleyW Qualifiers live on EuroVolley.TV. 

Check out the Preview for Pools A-C here.