On the eve of the biggest forum in women's volleyball – the World Championship in Thailand – the head coach of the national team, Antonina Zetova, gave a special interview for the official website of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation. In a frank conversation, she shared the team's condition, the lessons learned from the Nations League, and the key moments in Bulgaria's battle to advance from the groups.
🇧🇬 Zetova: We are ready to be more confident at the World Championship, the key is the match against Canada
The Bulgarian women's national team has completed its preparation for the upcoming World Championship. Coach Antonina Zetova emphasized that the team had limited time – only 17 days – and worked simultaneously on tactical elements that proved weak in the VNL, and on the physical condition of the players. 🏐
🔹 Conclusions from VNL
Zetova admitted that Bulgaria could have achieved more victories in the Nations League, recalling the dramatic losses to Canada and China. According to her, the demanding format, travel, and time differences significantly affected their performance. She highlighted that physical preparation in club teams is insufficient, especially without strength and conditioning coaches. Therefore, for the next season, closer monitoring by the national team's staff will be introduced. 💪
🔹 Focus on Canada
The first match at the World Championship will again be against Canada – the opponent against whom Bulgaria also started in the VNL. "This time we will be more confident because we now have a database and a clearer idea of their team," Zetova stated. The preparation also included a tournament in China, where a friendly match was played specifically against the Canadians. There we defeated Canada 3:2.
🔹 Goals for Bulgaria
The main task is to advance from the groups. Turkey is the favorite in the group, but the match against Canada will be crucial for progressing further. "I want to see a team that plays stably and competitively, to raise the level and show that we can oppose strong opponents," the coach emphasized.
✅ The national team will rely on better physical preparation, more confidence, and gradual team cohesion to find a way to the next phase of the World Championship.
