Germany's Gyorgy Grozer (centre) and Max Guenthoer (right) defend against Bulgaria's Todor Aleksiev
Katowice, Poland, September 11, 2014- right and left attackers Gyorgy Grozer and Denys Kaliberda conduct Germany to cruise past Bulgaria 3-1 (25-16, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17) in Pool F decisive of the 2014 FIVB Men's World championship at Spodek Hall in Katowice, Poland on Thursday.
They contributed a total of 36 points to their team with the former coming as match scorer with 19 points. Danail Milushev topped Bulgarian scorers with 13 points.
Key points
• This is Germany's fourth victory in 7 matches against Bulgaria at the World Championships (including East and West Germany), Bulgaria won 3.
• Germany have won six World Championship matches in a row for the first time as Unified Germany and The last German team to win more in a row was East Germany in 1966-1970 (10).
• Bulgaria lost 3-0 against Brazil and 3-1 against Germany back-to-back matches for the third time and for the first time since 1978, when they lost 3-0 against Italy and Brazil.
• Bulgaria lost three matches in a row at the World Championship for the first time since losing four in a row in 2002.
• This is Bulgaria's 150 World Championship matches, to become the third county to reach this total following Brazil and Russia (including Soviet Union).
• Bulgaria made 29 errors, giving points to Germany, against 12 errors made by Vital Heynen's players.
As both teams knew the importance of the game for their chances in the tournament, Germany and Bulgaria put all their efforts from the very beginning of the first set. Playing point by point (3-3), they presented very balanced and tough game with a counter-attacks spectacle displayed by György Gozer and Tsvetan Sokolov. Denys Kaliberda’s kills helped his team to gain two points of leading (7-5) and Germany run 8-5 ahead at the first technical timeout thanks to Svetoslav Gotsev’s out spike. Keeping good passing and Grozer playing aggressive serves turned out to be Germany’s key to stay ahead (16-8). Despite Todor Aleksiev doing his best, Bulgaria weren’t able to soothe their game and stop focused Germany. Efficient block displayed by Max Günthör and György Gozer at 22-14 forced Bulgaria’s coach to call a timeout, but it didn’t change the scores. Marcus Böhme finished the first set 25-16 with a powerful kill.
Coming back focused into the game, Bulgaria started to play aggressive serves. However Germany led 8-7 at the first technical timeout. Germany’s leading increased to 11-8, but Bulgaria didn’t surrender- Sokolov’s kill helped Bulgaria with regaining touch. At 21-14, still controlling the game, Germany’s Dirk Westphal and Marcus Böhme blocked Danail Milushev’s spike and Germany’s leading increased to nine points (23-14). It was György Gozer who finished the first set 25-15, displaying an ace.
Germany managed to take 3-1 leading at the beginning of the third set. However, Bulgaria improved their attack efficiency and run 5-3 ahead. This leading didn’t last long and after Westphal’s aggressive serves, followed by Max Günthör’s kill, Germany led 8-6 at the first technical timeout. Shortly after, two points scored by Danail Milushev let Bulgaria to take touch (8-8). Milushev and Gradinarov did their best to help Bulgaria with staying in the game, but their spikes were not enough for Germany’s answers with Kaliberda, Westphal and Grozer’s kills. At 17-16, Todor Skrimov scored point with his serve and put some hope in Bulgaria’s side of the court. Germany’s leading increased again to 20-18 and at 24-23, Grozer was stopped and Bulgaria had their first set ball, what Todor Skrimov used, spiking hard and letting Bulgaria win 25-23.
Germany stayed focused and with Grozer fine right-wing spike as they extended the leading to three points (6-3). After the first technical timeout, when Germany led 8-4, they kept good passing and were able to control the game. Efficient block displayed by Max Günthör and Andrey Zhekov added nineteenth point to Germany’s score and let them comfortably control the game till the end of the fourth set, which they finished 25-17.