The Bulgarian national team for boys under 17 has already secured its participation in the elimination phase of the World Championship in Doha, but the last match against Turkey could prove extremely important for the team's path forward. Ivan Stanev's boys hold in their own hands the opportunity to finish among the top five teams in the overall standings before the round of 16, and in the best-case scenario, they could even reach No. 3 in the scheme.
After two victories – 3:0 against Egypt and 3:1 against Spain – Bulgaria is at the top of Group D with a full asset of 6 points and 6:1 sets. Turkey has one win, one loss, and 4 points, while Egypt has already concluded its participation in the group with 2 wins and 4 points. Thus, our national team cannot remain outside the round of 16.
Following the format change immediately before the championship, 16 out of 20 participants advance – the top three teams from each of the five groups and the best fourth-placed team. After that, all qualified teams are ranked in a general ranking, which determines their positions in the elimination bracket. The round of 16 bracket is formed according to the overall ranking of the 16 advancing teams: 1–16, 2–15, 3–14, 4–13, 5–12, 6–11, 7–10, and 8–9.
That is precisely why the match against Turkey is not just a game for first place in Group D. Bulgaria is also playing for the highest possible position in the overall standings before the round of 16.
Four teams have already completed the group stage with three wins each. France has 9 points and 9:0 sets, Iran also has 9 points and 9:0, Italy has 9 points and 9:1, and Brazil finished with 8 points and 9:2. Bulgaria enters its last match with 2 wins, 6 points, and 6:1 sets.
This practically places our team in fifth position among the teams that have already played or have results from the first two rounds. The big advantage is that Bulgaria has one more match, and with a win against Turkey, none of the other teams that have not yet finished their group participation can overtake them in terms of number of wins.
In case of a 3:2 success, Bulgaria will finish with 3 wins, 8 points, and 9:3 sets. This will leave our team behind Brazil, which also has 3 wins and 8 points, but a better ratio of 9:2 sets. Thus, Bulgaria will be No. 5 in the overall standings.
A 3:1 victory already means a guaranteed fourth place. Bulgaria will have 3 wins, 9 points, and 9:2 sets. France and Iran have 9:0 each, and Italy has 9:1, which will leave our team immediately after them and ahead of Brazil.
The most interesting option is a clean 3:0 victory. Then Bulgaria will finish the group stage with 3 wins, 9 points, and 9:1 sets – absolutely the same indicators as Italy in terms of wins, points, and set ratio. The Italians have already finished with 245 points won against 205 lost and a coefficient of 1.195, while Bulgaria before the match with Turkey has 174:154 and a coefficient of 1.129. In a 3:0 victory, therefore, the scores by which the individual sets are won will also matter.
Thus, a clean success can open the door for Bulgaria to No. 3 in the overall standings, while 3:1 guarantees No. 4, and a 3:2 victory – No. 5.
The remaining matches of the last day can affect Bulgaria's position mainly in case of a loss to Turkey. Poland, India, Romania, and Pakistan still have matches, but each of them has only one win. With a third Bulgarian success, they cannot overtake our national team by the first criterion – the number of wins.
Therefore, the calculation for Ivan Stanev's team is relatively clear – Bulgaria is already in the round of 16, but the result against Turkey will determine from what position they will attack the eliminations. A victory guarantees a place among the top five in the bracket, 3:1 sends our team to No. 4, and 3:0 can even climb them to No. 3.
The match Bulgaria – Turkey is today at 5:00 PM Bulgarian time and is the last match of the preliminary phase for both teams and will be broadcast live on MAX One.
photo:volleyballworld.com
