RUSSIA FAVOURITES FOR THE EUROPEAN LEAGUE 2005 TITLE

European League 2005

Luxembourg, July 21, 2005. This weekend the four best teams of the European League 2005 will be fighting for the title of the second edition of which the Final Four will be taking place in Kazan (RUS), deciding on the follower of the defending champion Czech Republic who was knocked out during the League Round this year. Clear favourites are the Russian formation who won eleven from the total 12 League Round matches and have the strong Russian home support behind them. The three challengers will be Finland, as well as European League novices Spain and Turkey. 

The Final Four, organised for the second time by the European Volleyball Confederation CEV, is the summit of this second European League event, which comes to a close this weekend.

After six legs of pool play the four best teams advanced to the Final Four. In Pool 1 Russia quickly occupied top position conceding only one match from the total 12, namely against Germany (1:3). It wasn't until the final sixth League Round that Finland overtook Germany on second place, securing their spot in the Final Four. Although Estonia started well into the League Round after taking Russia twice to five sets, they managed only another two wins which left them on last place.

The situation in Pool 2 was just as exciting. Whilst Turkey was already sure of qualifying for the Final Four as pool leader and the 2004 titleholder Czech Republic stood no more chance of moving on to the final phase, Spain and Slovakia (both with 15 points) faced each other in the final two matches, battling for second spot. Overcoming the guest team 3:0 after the first match in Villena Alicante (ESP), the Spaniards were already able to celebrate their Final Four qualification before they booked the second victory 3:1.

The two semifinals of the European League are scheduled for Saturday, 23rd July 2005. In the first semifinal world number 33 Turkey will meet Finland at 15.30 hrs local time before hosts Russia will be challenged by the upcoming Spanish squad at 18.30 hrs local time.

Both semifinal winners advance to Sunday's final, which is scheduled for 17.30 hrs local time. The bronze medal match will be played on Sunday, 24th July 2005 at 15.00 hrs local time.

After broadcasting a selection of League Round matches the European League Final Four, produced by Russian RTR, will be shown slightly delayed on Eurosport International on 23rd July 2005 at 23.00 hrs (CET).

 

European League Final Four: 23-24 July, Kazan (RUS)

Match schedule (all times are local)

Saturday, 23 July	15.30	TUR - FIN
	18.30	RUS - ESP
Sunday, 24 July	15.00	Classification 3-4
	17.30	Final

More on the web at www.cev.lu

Enjoy & Be There: 

26-31 July 2005: FIVB Grand Prix Qualification, Guba, Azerbaijan.
28-31 July 2005: Under 20 European Beach Volleyball Championships 2005, Tel Aviv, Israel.
04-07 August 2005: Under 23 European Beach Volleyball Championships 2005, Myslowice, Poland.
06-09 August 2005: Nestea European Championship Tour - Swiss Open, Lucerne, Switzerland.
11-14 August 2005: Under 18 European Beach Volleyball Championships, Illichivsk, Ukraine.
25-28 August 2005: Nestea European Championship Tour Final, Moscow, Russia.
02-11 September 2005: Men’s Senior European Championships 2005, Rome (ITA) and Belgrade (SCG).
16-25 September 2005: Women’s Senior European Championships 2005, Pula and Zagreb, Croatia.