Ireneusz Mazur: polish junior national team’s game stabilizes

Two victories over Finland 3:1 and Italy 3:2, as well as failure with Belgium 2:3 – this is the balance of the polish junior men’s European Championships which started on Saturday in Gdynia.

Two victories over Finland 3:1 and Italy 3:2, as well as failure with Belgium 2:3 – this is the balance of the polish junior men’s European Championships which started on Saturday in Gdynia.

- The game of the white-and-reds stabilizes. In difficult moments they can start an effective and good game. The host team of the tournament plays not bad, however, the first match with Finland was a little nervous and it took too much time for them to develop. The match with Belgium has been balanced. Details had big influence on the result. The rivals of the polish team made less mistakes, and so they won. Italy had advantage of 2:0 and too soon believed in their success. Polish team opened on a good game and defeated the polish players in tie break – says former coach of the men’s national team, Ireneusz Mazur, who observes the matches in Gdynia’s hall.

Several years ago, after the return from Junior Men’s European Championships coach Grzegorz Ryś said that Dmitrij Muserski, who played in the Russian team then, will develop as a world-level star. Have we already been presented to the best players in Gdynia in who we might have same faith as when Muserski was on top?  

– For the moment I have not seen any outstanding individuals. In each team there are players who present their uniqueness. It would be not fair if we said that features which dominate are mediocrity and the color of gray. The question is whether these players who perform very well at the European Championships will get to the club where they will be able to develop their skills – adds Ireneusz Mazur.

Before the junior ECH Serbia was one of the favorites. Nevertheless, young players from the Balkans did not face the expectations. – There are several interesting personalities in this team. However, their game quickly fails because the players can not use their individual skills for the sake of the whole team – said Ireneusz Mazur.

Tuesday is the day off at the junior European Championships. After three days of the tournament Belgium is on the top of the ranking (with 8 points), before Italy (6 points) and Poland (6 points). Two best teams out of each group will promote to the semifinal.