Pasay City, PhilippinesIn a dramatic match from groupEat the World Championship in the Philippines, Slovenia defeated Germany 3:1 (25-21, 17-25, 31-29, 25-22) and secured a place in the 1/8 finals against the USA. For the Germans, the defeat means the end of their hopes for a breakthrough in the tournament, and for the legendary Georg Grozer, it was a sad end to his career on the world stage.
The third set proved to be a key moment, in which the Germans tried to repeat their feat from the match against Bulgaria, when they managed to overcome a 6-point lead and brought the set to a record 40 points. This time, however, the Slovenians did not allow the scenario to repeat they stopped the score at 31:29 and pulled ahead 2:1.
Coach Micha
Winiarski attempted to turn the tide of the match by substituting captain Grozer and bringing in John, but this change did not bring the desired effect. The last point of the match came from an incorrect serve by R
rs.
| Statistics | Slovenia | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 56 | 54 |
| Block | 12 | 9 |
| Serve | 5 | 7 |
| Opponent errors | 25 | 27 |
| Total points | 98 | 97 |
The statistics show an extremely balanced match only one total point separated the two teams (98:97). The Slovenians were better in blocking (12:9), while the Germans compensated with slightly more direct points from serves (7:5). The key to success was minimizing their own errors and stable concentration in decisive moments.
Team skills
| Element | Slovenia | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive digs | 61 | 64 |
| Reception | 79 | 76 |
| Setting | 107 | 109 |
The two teams played almost identically in defense and setting. Germany had a slight advantage in defensive digs (64:61) and in setting (109:107), but this did not translate into an advantage on the scoreboard. The Slovenians showed more stability in reception, which gave them the opportunity for a more effective attack.
Top scorers:
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Rörs | Germany | 22 |
| T. Stern | Slovenia | 18 |
| Mujanović | Slovenia | 16 |
| Brand | Germany | 14 |
| Grozer | Germany | 8 |
Röhrs was the top scorer with 22 points, but the lack of support from the experienced Grozer (only 8 points) proved costly. For Slovenia, leader Tonček Štern scored 18 points, and Mujanović added 16 – a combination that proved decisive for the final success.
Slovenia demonstrated maturity and mental resilience in the most tense moments, while Germany paid the price for its fluctuations. For Georg Grozer, this match marked the end of a brilliant career with a sad finish – without a chance for a last major achievement at a World Championship.
The Slovenians are now looking forward to the clash with the Olympic bronze medalists from Paris, USA, where they will need to show an even higher level of discipline and resilience.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
