European Championships | 26 Sep 2014
Portugal up to penultimate stage
In the semi final of the TMS European Championships in Men’s Team’s Event host nation, Portugal will play against Sweden, whilst Germany will meet Croatia tomorrow. Germany was first team to book the place I the semi final. Timo BOLL gave reigning champio
In the semi final of the TMS European Championships in Men’s Team’s Event host nation, Portugal will play against Sweden, whilst Germany will meet Croatia tomorrow.
Germany was first team to book the place I the semi final. Timo BOLL gave reigning champions dream start with 3:1 victory over Emmanuel LEBESSON. “That was very important match. Very tough one, but BOLL was at the top of his game,” said coach Jorg ROSSKOPF.
In next match Stefen MENGEL overcame Adrian MATTENET: ”First and third game went on MENGEL’S account even easier then we predicted. He was under pressure only in the second game being 4:8 in reverse.”
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV sealed the duel with the victory over Stephanie OUACHIE. “This player is very good, dangerous …However, the 2:1 advantage for the no. five player in the World Rankings must be enough to finish the duel with the victory.”
Dimitrij came to Portugal yesterday, still under medications that he has to take for inflammation. He had a dental surgery. “I managed to sleep last night, but I am still very tired. Those four games drained me like I played seven,” admitted OVTCHAROV.
BOLL is in good shape: ”We won hard match and overcame complicated situation successfully. We are in good rhythm and believe we are on good path for gold.”
Sweden overcame Spain on their way to the medal rostrum. Like five years before Par GERELL will carry another European medal home.
“We produced very good game here and I believe we can go further and reach Sunday’s final,” said GERELL who overcame Jesus CANTERO tonight. Kristian KARLSSON overcame HE Zhi Wen and Carlos MACHADO.
The Croatian coach Zvonimir KORENIC was emotionally drained after the duel against Belarus. After four quarterfinals in the row, the team finally in fifth attempt reached the medal rostrum. “We did it in the final in which we believed the less. Maybe that was the reason for our success. We were not under pressure…” said KORENIC.
However, soon he corrected himself: ”The main reason we won it was the fact that Andrej GACINA play fantastic table tennis here in Lisbon. His score so far is 7:0. Also we have TAN Ruiwu , despite lack of top form, plays with the full heart and gives maximum. We even had “wrong” line up today against Belarus with Evgueni CHTCHETININE on position no. three, but Andrej beat SAMSONOV and everything finished good for us.”
Portugal gave their best to withstood spirited performance of Russia. Marcos FREITAS beat Alexander SHIBAEV and Alexey LIVENTSOV. “LIVENTSOV is a great player, but I read his service game well tonight. LLIVENTSOV changed his tactics after 2:0, he became more defensive, but I adjusted to it and won.“
APOLONIA lost the duel against Alexander SHIBAEV, but coach Pedro RUFINO praised his game. “APOLONIA is fantastic player and lost in the good match against very good player.”
Tomorrow Portugal will play against Sweden. ”It will not be easy, but team is prepared. Now we need jut a good rest,” said Marcos FREITAS.
