In Under 19 Boys Event at the GAZPROM 2021 European Youth Championships in Croatia’s City of Varazdin Portugal France Spain and Poland all emerged successfully at the top of their respective groups.
Portugal overcame all three teams in Group B. Tiago LI Goncalo GOMES David BESSA and Silas MONTEIRO proved too strong for Russia Czech Republic and Turkey. In the third round they overcame Czech Republic.
“We are very happy with this victory and I am satisfied with my game. However we can not be relaxed because we have to be ready for tomorrow’s Round of 16. We are hoping for the best ” said Goncalo GOMES.
Spain beat Italy and Hungary before they lost in the last match against Belgium and they finished first in the Group A. Both Italy and Belgium recored two wins but with the better match ratio it is Italy who secured second spot. However Belgium is most successful team at position no. three in the Group and they progressed to the Round of 16 directly.
With only two players Damir AKHMETSAFIN and Maksim BOKOV Russia managed to score against Czech Republic and Turkey and to secure the direct passage to the next phase.
France is unbeaten in Group C. From the no. three spot in the seedings of the Group they moved to position. no. one. They overcame Serbia Germany and Slovakia and on their way to the top Alexis LEBRUN Thibault PORET Alexis KOURAICHI and Benjamin FRUCHART were only challenged in the duel against Germany at the beginning of the opening day of the play.
Germany could not justify their leading position and they moved to second place. In the last match of the day they overcame Serbia.
“ It was not that easy as the result predicts.Against Dusan VEZMAR in the opening game it become close at 9:9 but thankfully with two good services I managed to escape the troubles ” said Hannes HOERMANN.
Poland’s Samuel KULCZYCKI Szymon KOLASA and Lukasz SOKOLOWSKI underlined their status and recorded all three wins against Croatia Sweden and Denmark to clinch the top position in their Group. In the direct clash for the second position host nation lost thriller against Sweden.
