The final stretch of the Nations League group stage promises a spectacular finish, and Bulgaria's 2:3 loss to Cuba in Gdansk could prove crucial for the distribution of the last spots for the finals in China. It is the Cubans, who snatched their fifth win after a tie-break against our team, who currently occupy seventh place - the last one that secures a direct quota. China is only in 15th position, but as a host, it has guaranteed participation in the finals, which means that the remaining seven teams will be determined solely by ranking.
The loss to Cuba leaves the Bulgarian team with minimal chances of progressing - this will require three categorical victories with 3:0 or 3:1 and a series of losses for our direct competitors. Theoretically, 7 more teams retain a chance for the finals, but for teams like Iran, Germany, and Bulgaria, this involves almost impossible scenarios.
| Position | Team | Wins | Points | Set Ratio | Point Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 8 | 23 | 2.888 | 1.103 |
| 2 | Italy | 7 | 20 | 2.000 | 1.131 |
| 3 | Poland | 7 | 20 | 2.000 | 1.040 |
| 4 | Japan | 6 | 18 | 1.750 | 1.069 |
| 5 | France | 6 | 18 | 1.692 | 1.065 |
| 6 | Ukraine | 6 | 17 | 1.375 | 1.034 |
| 7 | Cuba | 5 | 15 | 1.105 | 1.020 |
| 8 | Slovenia | 5 | 14 | 0.941 | 1.001 |
| 9 | Argentina | 5 | 13 | 1.000 | 1.008 |
| 10 | USA | 5 | 13 | 0.941 | 0.981 |
| 11 | Germany | 4 | 15 | 1.052 | 1.004 |
| 12 | Iran | 4 | 13 | 0.904 | 1.001 |
| 13 | Bulgaria | 4 | 12 | 0.888 | 0.965 |
| 14 | Canada | 3 | 11 | 0.800 | 0.980 |
| 15 | China | 2 | 7 | 0.409 | 0.897 |
| 16 | Turkey | 2 | 6 | 0.380 | 0.934 |
| 17 | Netherlands | 1 | 5 | 0.440 | 0.916 |
| 18 | Serbia | 1 | 3 | 0.280 | 0.842 |
Clash of titans for top 8: Brazil leads, Poland chases
Leading the standings is the Brazilian team, which so far has only one loss – precisely to Cuba – and two matches won after a tie-break. After today's difficult 3:2 victory over Iran, the Poles are in third position. Despite an equal number of points and wins, they are displaced from second place by Italy, which has a better point ratio, thanks to their clean victory over Serbia.
The big battle: Japan, France and Ukraine await a mistake from the favorites
From fourth to sixth position are Japan, France and Ukraine – all with six wins each. The difference between them is formed solely by the additional points accumulated from victories with different results. The strong competition between these teams portends at least one more upheaval in the top eight.
Poland one step away from a ticket to China ✈️
To guarantee qualification for the finals in China two matches before the end of the tournament in Gdansk, Poland will have to win today 3:0 or 3:1 against the seventh in the standings – Cuba.
Drama for survival: Serbia on the brink of an abyss 🇷🇸
The situation at the bottom of the table is even more tense – Serbia is last (18th) with just one victory and risks falling out of the elite. Above them is the Netherlands, also with one success, but two losses after a tie-break give them points for the penultimate place, which is also far from safe.
What's next?
The last three matches for each team will decide the fate of the eight finalists. Bulgaria needs perfection and a dose of luck to dream. It's time for top-level volleyball – with a lot of mathematics and even more heart on the court. ❤️🏐
