The Bulgarian men's national team (B formation) played two friendly matches against North Macedonia on two consecutive days – July 29 and 30. The control matches took place in the capital's Levski Sofia hall and were led by the tandem of Francesco Mollo and Teodor Bogdanov.

Exchanged victories in the control matches

In the first match on July 29, the Bulgarian team decisively lost 0:4 sets, which indicated the need for better teamwork and adaptation among the players. Despite the defeat, the coaching staff gave playing time to all available volleyball players.

Just one day later, on July 30, the national team showed visible progress and managed to outplay their opponent with the same score — 4:0. This was a sign that the training work was starting to yield results and the team was on the right track.

Bulgaria (B formation) Squad

The squad includes a combination of proven names from the domestic league and young prospects with good potential for development. The presence of five outside hitters suggests a search for options in reception and attack from Zone 4, while the variety of four middle blockers provides good opportunities for rotations and flexibility in blocking. The opposite hitters and setters are also relatively evenly matched, which creates a chance to build synchronicity in different game configurations.

Next test: "Chaika" tournament in Skopje

Bulgaria (B squad) will continue its preparation by participating in the international friendly tournament "Chaika" in Skopje between August 5 and 7. The competition will include hosts North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Switzerland.

Tournament "Chaika" Program:

The tournament will be an opportunity to test against different types of opponents, which is key in building game resilience. The competition is expected to provide an even clearer picture of the potential and readiness of individual athletes to compete for a place in the expanded national team.

photo: BFV