Namely, Croatia’s loss against France in the second round of last year’s European Championship resulted in losing important points for the final ranking list. In the end, Croatia took 25th place, and 24 national teams entered the draw for the World Championships, reports HRT.
However, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) knocked the Russian national team out of the draw, so Croatia was allowed to participate as the next in line.
The Croatia women’s national team was drawn in Group B, which is played in Gdansk, Poland, and Arnheim in the Netherlands, with hosts Poland, Turkey, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, and Thailand.
To advance to the second round, you need to be among the four best-placed teams in the group.
“Our secret hopes were fulfilled. We believed until the last moment that they could be included in the draw for the World Championships because this information appeared a few days ago. Therefore, we are happy and satisfied with that and proud to be in the company of the world’s best volleyball teams again after 2014,” said Frane Žanić, expert secretary of the Croatian Volleyball Federation, which is currently in Turkey with the new coach Ferhat Akbas.
“The group is difficult; it is hosted by Poland, Turkey, which is among the three best European teams, Korea as the fourth from the last Olympic Games, and always strong Thailand and the Dominican Republic. But, I believe that we also have our chances; I think we can play equally with those teams,” he added.
Coach Akbas has a similar opinion, who advanced to another big competition this year, along with the European League Gold Group, the Mediterranean Games, the Challenger Cup, and the European Championship qualifiers, which will follow just before the World Championships.
“I am satisfied with the group; there are no weak rivals at the World Championships anyway. I can certainly promise now that we will do our best to show ourselves in the best possible light and that we will be a tough nut to crack for everyone. We are not without our chances, and we will try to use them. Turkey is in our group which does not change anything. Croatia is now the country I am fighting for,” he stressed.
GROUPS:
Group A (Arnheim): Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Cameroon, Kenya
Group B (Arnheim / Gdansk): Poland, Turkey, Dominican Republic, South Korea, Thailand, CROATIA
Group C (Arnheim / Lodz): USA, Serbia, Germany, Bulgaria, Canada, Kazakhstan
Group D (Arnheim): Brazil, China, Japan, Colombia, Argentina, Czech Republic
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