European Championships | 6 Oct 2013

Fantastic Greece reach Men’s Teams final

For a sixth time in the row Germany will play for gold. At the LIEBHERR European Championships in WSA Multiversum, reigning champions reached ultimate stage of the Men’s Team’s Event after straight matches victory over Russia.  On the other side of the ta

For a sixth time in the row Germany will play for gold. At the LIEBHERR European Championships in WSA Multiversum, reigning champions reached ultimate stage of the Men’s Team’s Event after straight matches victory over Russia.  On the other side of the table will be Greece. Greece overcame Belarus to put another milestone on their fantastic success.

Very important match was the first one between Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Alexander SHIBAEV. DIMITRIJ took opening game by the storm. In second set SHIBAEV rose his game, but still OVTCHAROV had full control. However, in third set Dimitrij get a yellow card, he lost his focus for a second and on match ball he made service mistake. SHIBAEV recovered to level.

“Now I am very relieved. It was very close. I am also glad that I had not to go again in the box. Against SHIBAEV I didn’t find my game. Up to 7-3 in the third set, it went flawlessly and suddenly the game stopped. In the fifth set I’ve increased the level of play again.”

Coach Jorg ROSSKOPF was satisfied. “Sometimes players took too much time between two services, but this time it was not the case. Players were not under pressure, everything was all right and there were no need for yellow card. There was no need for such stress. However Dima came out stronger from that situation. He lost next two games, but came back in fifth like nothing happened. He showed once again why he is in Top 10 of the World.”

BAUM beat SMIRNOV in another five games duel. “SMIRNOV is very dangerous for left hand players. He played very good against BAUM.”

For tomorrow’s final OVTCHAROV said: “We are still hungry for medals. So far we lost no game at all and I am optimistic before the ultimate stage match.”

Pavel PLATONOV gave Belarus good start in the duel against Greece. Panagiotis GIONIS was close each time, all three games concluded at 11:9, but failed to take even game from Belarus player.  The real threat for the spectators were the match between the player who played for a first time at the European Championships in 1994, Vladimir SAMSONOV and the player who had his debut two years earlier, in 1992, Kalinikos KREANGA. KREANGA stretched SAMSONOV to full distance and he was escorted with the great applause, but it was Vladi who gave his team the 2:0 lead. After thrilling five games, Greece was back in game thanks to Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIU, who overcame Evgeni CHTCHETININE. CHTCHETININE recovered from 0:2, but at the end PAPAGEORGIU was the one who won the match.

GIONIS put Greece in driving seat once again. He overcame SAMSONOV in thrilling five games encounter.

Kalinikos KREANGA was once again in the action against Pavel PLATONOV. Furiously he took over two opening games before, he lost the next one, but after fourth Greece was in the final. “I played at the European Championships for so long, and we wre close so many times. We finally did it and I can tell that the role of the PAPAGEORGIU was tremendous. He is the only unbeaten player in the team. Speaking about my game, I know I can win when it came to 2:2. That is my field, I know how to play under pressure“, explained KALINIKOS.





Milica NIKOLIC, EWT, Milica NIKOLIC, EWT

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