Pasay City, Philippines.The volleyball world witnessed another major surprise at the World Championship in the Philippines. The Czech national team caused a sensation by eliminating Iran with a 3:1 (22-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-21) victory in the quarterfinals, thus qualifying for the semifinals, where Italy and Poland are already present. The last participant in the Top 4 will be determined after the clash between Bulgaria and USA. The winner of that match will face the surprising Czech Republic.
With the defeat of the 'Persians', Asia remains without a representative in the final four.
A match turned around by heart and character
Iran started the match brilliantly and won the first set with powerful serving and a solid block, which disrupted the Czech reception. The second set proved crucial for the match's outcome, as the Czechs showed amazing mental strength and managed to snatch it after trailing 20:22, leading to an extended finish – 27:25. This equalization of sets proved to be a turning point.
From then on, the Central Europeans controlled the game, maintaining a stable 3-4 point lead in the third and fourth sets. In critical moments, Iran made too many unforced errors, which paved the way for Czechia's historic victory. Towards the end of the match, the difference even reached 5 points, and dozens of Czech fans in the hall celebrated with one of the match's heroes
– the volleyball player of Bulgarian origin, Jan Galabov, who scored the final point.
📊 Match Statistics
| Element | Czech Republic | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks | 56 | 54 |
| Block | 7 | 5 |
| Serve | 5 | 7 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 31 | 25 |
| Total points | 99 | 91 |
The data shows an almost even battle in attack and serve, but the Czechs excelled in blocking and took full advantage of Iran's errors
– a total of 31 points from them. This was the key factor that tipped the scales in their favor.
📊 Team Skills
| Element | Czech Republic | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Digs in defense | 45 | 40 |
| Reception | 71 | 80 |
| Setting | 93 | 95 |
Although the Iranians had a slight advantage in reception and setting, the Czechs compensated with better defense and a more effective block. In decisive moments, this allowed them to control the rallies.
⭐ Top Scorers
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Indra (No. 23) | Czech Republic | 22 |
| Vasina (No. 11) | Czech Republic | 21 |
| Porya (No. 9) | Iran | 18 |
| Hajipour (No. 17) | Iran | 18 |
The duo Indra – Vasina was a nightmare for the Iranian block, scoring a total of 43 points. Iran lacked a clear leader, which proved decisive in key moments.
The historic qualification of the Czech Republic, which as an independent state since 1993 has never been in the top 4, is proof that volleyball in the country is on the rise, and the match against USA or Bulgaria will be a true test of their ambitions.
For Asia, this elimination is a worrying sign – after years of stable presence in the world elite, the continent will have to look for new solutions and directions for development.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
