Facts and figures around Pool D of #EuroVolleyW

Teams in Pool D will play their preliminary EuroVolley matches at Ganja’s Göygöl Olympic Sport Complex. Based in Azerbaijan’s second largest city, the venue is surrounded by areas of natural beauty. Inside the arena, there are spaces for around 900 fans in the 15-year-old building.

Serbia

Serbia’s finest hour at EuroVolley came six years ago when they beat Germany in five sets to win their only gold medal to date. Their solitary silver came four years earlier when they were defeated by Italy in the gold medal match. They have twice been bronze medallists in 1951, competing as Yugoslavia, and also two years ago when they beat Turkey which also qualified them for the 2017 edition. Zoran Terzić’s team won the bronze medal at the World Grand Prix earlier this year by winning 3-1 against China in Nanjing, but it was the Chinese that denied them gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as they took silver.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands were silver medallists when they co-hosted EuroVolley two years ago, coming up short against Russia. It was a result that they also experienced in 2009, this time losing to Italy. They won gold in 1995, this time as the only hosts of the competition, and beat Croatia 3-0 in the final in Arnhem. The Dutch finished joint-fifth at the World Grand Prix in July and came fourth at the Olympic Games a year ago in Rio de Janeiro. 

Belgium

Belgium are rejuvenated as a volleyball nation and have reached the finals of four of the last five editions of EuroVolley, having missed out completely from 1989 to 2005. They have one medal to their name when they secured bronze in 2013 after beating Serbia in five sets. Two years ago they reached the quarter-finals and finished sixth overall with Serbia gaining revenge to halt their progress. Belgium finished bottom of World Grand Prix Group 1 and were ranked 12th overall. The Yellow Tigers qualified for EuroVolley by Pool B in the second round of qualifying ahead of Spain, France and Bosnia & Herzegovina. 

Czech Republic

Czech Republic secured their place at EuroVolley by overcoming Slovakia in the third round of qualifying and in doing so made sure of a sixth successive appearance at the competition. Two years ago they finished 11th having ranked 10th, 8th, 10th and 9th at their four previous finals. Having inherited the results of Czechoslovakia they have four bronze and four silver medals to their name, with their gold medal success coming in 1955 when they finished ahead of Soviet Union. Their best result since 1993 competing as Czech Republic was four years later in 1997 when they won the bronze medal by sweeping Bulgaria. At the World Grand Prix earlier this year they came fourth in Group 2, giving them an overall rank of 16th.