European Championships | 17 Sep 2017

Germany regains the title at the LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships

Photo: Rémy Gros ITTF

For a seventh time in history Germany is at the top of the Europe. They clinched the gold medal in the Men’s Teams Event at the LIBEHERR ITTF Championships in Luxembourg.

 

It was the second time Portugal and Germany meet in the final of the Men’s Team’s Event at the European Championships; the outcome being very different to their most last encounter in the final in Lisbon 2015 when Germany suffered defeat.

 

Europe’s no two Timo BOLL had a shaky start against the player currently ranked at the position no. four Marcos FREITAS. By narrow margin, Portugal’s player took the opening game, before Timo leveled. Tense contest continued with FREITAS clinched third game by 15:13, but once again BOLL responded in furious style to push the match into the decisive game. Marcos was first to reach the match ball at 10:7, BOLL reduced the difference; leveled and win the match (9:11, 11:7, 13:15, 11:5, 12:10).

 

“Marcus and I know each other very well. At the World Champion ships we also played very close game, so I spend a lot of time preparing for this match. He is also very intelligent; it is very challenging to play against him. He forces you to play at the highest level all time,” said Timo BOLL.

 

Marcus had his chances.

 

“I had match ball and everything could be different,” explained FREITAS.

 

Europe’s leading player Dimitrij OVTCHAROV showed no mercy against Europe’s no. seven Tiago APOLONIA. In the second game APOLONIA responded but his efforts were denied by very powerful performance of Dimitrij 3:0 (11:6, 11:7, 11:9).

 

“We were determent to regain the title that we lost in Lisbon,” said OVTCHAROV.

 

Patrick FRANZISKA no. 11 in Europe had a game ball but it was Joao MONTEIRO Europe’s no. 20 who won it at 10:12. After Patrick lost the first game, he regained the control to seal the match in four games.

 

“My teammates helped me with 2:0. I was not under pressure. Even in the first game I had 10:7, so I could sealed the match earlier,” said FRANZISKA.

 

MONTEIRO summarised:”We won five matches in the row. It is hard when you lost the final, but generally we had a good tournament here.”

Germany – Portugal 3:0

 

Timo BOLL – Marcos FREITAS 3:2 (9:11, 11:7, 13:15, 11:5, 12:10)

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV - Tiago APOLONIA 3:0 (11:6, 11:7, 11:9)

Patrick FRANZISKA - Joao MONTEIRO 3:0 (10:12, 11:6, 11:9, 11:5)

 

Men's Team Final Positions

 

1       GERMANY

2       PORTUGAL

3       SLOVENIA

3       FRANCE

5       SWEDEN

6       CROATIA

7       UKRAINE

8       GREECE

9       SPAIN

10      AUSTRIA

11      ROMANIA

12      POLAND

13      SLOVAK REPUBLIC

14      RUSSIA

15      BELARUS

16      LUXEMBOURG

17      DENMARK

18      TURKEY

19      BELGIUM

20      HUNGARY

21      CZECH REPUBLIC

22      ITALY

23      NETHERLANDS

24      LITHUANIA

25      ENGLAND

26      FINLAND

27      ISRAEL

28      SWITZERLAND

29      SERBIA

30      BULGARIA

31      IRELAND

32      ESTONIA

3       AZERBAIJAN

34      BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

35      MONTENEGRO

36      SCOTLAND

37      LATVIA

38      NORWAY

39      WALES

40      MACEDONIA

41      CYPRUS

42      KOSOVO

 

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