Bulgaria's national U16 boys' team suffered a second consecutive defeat at the European Championship in Yerevan (Armenia). The protégés of coach Svetozar Ivanov lost 0:3 (17:25, 21:25, 16:25) to the Czech Republic in their third match of Group II of the tournament.
After this loss, Bulgaria ranks 7th, second to last in the temporary group standings, with 1 win, 2 losses, and 3 points. The chances of qualifying for the semi-finals seem almost lost.
Bulgaria remains with a single victory and a low game ratio. Sunday's match against Serbia will be crucial in the battle for a higher position, although the chances for a semi-final are minimal.
Statistics and individual performances
Despite the loss, two Bulgarian volleyball players distinguished themselves with double-digit points – Milko Bagdasarov and Krastin Ilov.
| Player | Points | Attack efficiency | Positive Reception | Blocks | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milko Bagdasarov | 10 | 33% | 55% | 0 | +3 |
| Krastin Ilov | 10 | 40% | — | 4 | +6 |
Czech Republic with a powerful trio in attack
The Czech team played confidently, with Simon Janalik playing a leading role.
| Player (Czech Republic) | Points | Blocks | Attack efficiency | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Janalik | 15 | 1 | 38% | +12 |
| Wojciech Szczyrk | 13 | — | --- | --- |
| Jan Friedrich | 12 | — | --- | --- |
Next match: vs Serbia
After the rest day on July 26, the national team of Bulgaria will play its next match on Sunday, July 27, against their peers from Serbia. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 PM Bulgarian time and is the last opportunity for the Bulgarian juniors to improve their ranking before the end of the group stage.
