The Bulgarian national team will not play in the final eight of the Nations League in Ningbo. Gianlorenzo Blengini's volleyball players failed to take advantage of the opportunity that arose after Cuba's and Ukraine's losses earlier in the day. Just one win - even 3:2 - would have qualified us, but instead, a heavy and helpless 0:3 loss to Iran followed.
▶ First set: 17:25
The very beginning was shocking - Iran pulled ahead 5:0 after a serve by Morteza Sharifi and two blocks against Aleksandar Nikolov. Bulgaria looked lost, and substitutions did not help. The only positive was the inclusion of Iliya Petkov, who showed grit in the center. But the difference was too great to be made up.
▶ Second set: 17:25
Again, a good start for Iran and a new series of aces - this time by Amin Esmaeilnezhad. Venislav Antov tried to bring back the intrigue with several successful attacks, but the difference in the stability of reception and block was obvious. Bulgaria failed to hold the ball long enough to build rhythm.
▶ Third set: 16:25
Hope flickered at 3:2 for Bulgaria, but it was just a mirage. Amin again troubled our reception with his serve, and our attack was ineffective against the well-organized Iranian block. Simeon Nikolov and Rusi Zhelyazkov, who made his debut in this tournament, appeared at the end, but everything was already decided. Symbolically, the last point came after an out-of-bounds serve by Alex Nikolov.
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➤ Key indicators:
| Category | Bulgaria | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks | 30 | 40 |
| Blocks | 2 | 10 |
| Serve (aces) | 1 | 8 |
| Opponent errors | 17 | 17 |
| Total points | 50 | 75 |
🔎 Analysis:
The difference in blocking and serving is striking - 10:2 and 8:1 in favor of Iran. This clearly shows where our team's game is breaking down - lack of aggression in serving and inability to neutralize the opponent's attack.
➤ Game elements:
| Category | Bulgaria | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Digs | 37 | 41 |
| Reception | 62 | 40 |
| Sets | 73 | 68 |
🔎 Analysis:
More sets and receptions for Bulgaria, but weak realization - a sign that the attack was ineffective. The reception in numbers looks decent, but its effectiveness remains low, especially against Iran's aggressive serve.
➤ Top scorers:
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Amin Esmaeilnezhad (10) | Iran | 19 |
| Amirhossein Esfandiar (12) | Iran | 14 |
| Venislav Antov (18) | Bulgaria | 11 |
| Aleksandar Nikolov (23) | Bulgaria | 8 |
🔎 Analysis:
Antov showed good dynamics, but was left almost alone in attack. Nikolov did not find his rhythm. For Iran, Amin and Esfandiar demonstrated stability and class, leaving no chance for our defense.
➡ Bulgaria finishes its participation in the Nations League with 6 wins, 6 losses, and 17 points. A little was not enough, but that little today was fatal.
