The third, decisive week of the Volleyball Nations League (July 15–19) is approaching, with two of Bulgaria's opponents in the Chicago tournament – France and Poland – set to play their final warm-up matches on European soil before departing for the United States. Currently, the Bulgarian national team has no publicly announced similar friendly.
France will face Belgium on July 8 at the 'Leo Lagrange' sports complex in Tourcoing. This match will be the final test for Andrea Giani's selection before their departure for Chicago, where 'Les Bleus' will compete against Brazil, China, Poland, and Bulgaria.
After the first two tournaments, the Olympic champions are outside the places that qualify for the final eight, which makes the last preparation before Chicago even more important.
Poland will also hold a warm-up match before their departure for the USA. On July 10, the world No. 1 will host Germany in the 'Urania' hall in Olsztyn. The match generated huge interest, and tickets were sold out days before it took place.
For Nikola Grbic's selection, this will be the last opportunity for a match-practice before the games against Bulgaria, Brazil, France, and host USA in Chicago.
Italy will face Argentina today, July 5, in Trento. This friendly is part of the world champions' preparation for the final week of the tournament, where they will pursue qualification among the top eight.
Japan also has a warm-up match. The main national team will face Canada on July 10 in Okinawa.
Unlike its opponents in Chicago, Bulgaria currently has no publicly announced warm-up match before the third week of the tournament. The national team appears to be preparing directly for its departure to the USA without an additional friendly match.

The same applies to the other two teams in the group. Host USA has not announced any warm-up matches before the start of the tournament, and China also has no publicly confirmed friendly. For the Asians, the only more serious news is the injury of young middle blocker Xue Zhihong, who is out for the remainder of this year's Nations League due to a fracture in the area of the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot.
Currently, France and Poland remain Bulgaria's only opponents in the Chicago group with officially announced warm-up matches immediately before the start of the third week of the Volleyball Nations League.

photos: Nikolay Varadinov