European Men’s Volleyball: National team goes into battle with first goal of Season 16 qualifiers

Our national team is counting down to the Eurovolley premiere against Group D hosts Israel (29/08, 20:00 ERT-3).

The men’s national team is taking part in the final stages of a European championship for the 17th time and for the 3rd time in a row (1967, 1971, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 , 2019, 2021, 2023).

The national team’s squad of 14 consists of:

• passers-by: Markos Galiotos, Apostolis Petsias.
• extremes: Raphael Koumentakis, Thanasis Protopsaltis, Spyros Hakas, Alexandros Raptis.
• Central: Giorgos Petreas (leader), Dimitris Tzourits, Demosthenes Linardos, Thodoris Voulkidis.
• diagonals: Giorgos Tzioumakas, Dimitris Mouchlias.
• Libero: Menelaus Kokkinakis, Aristides Chandrinos.

The coaching staff consists of national coach Dante Bonifante, his colleagues Samuele Papi, Kostas Christofidelis and Giorgos Stefanou, team manager Marios Giourdas, statistician Alexandros Laios, physiotherapists James Neophytos, Dimitris Seimekis, gymnast Lambros Danas and supervisor Zhan Russen.

Bonifande: “We must be ready to fight”

As an athlete, Dante Bonifante won the silver medal in Euro volleyball with the Italian national team in 2011 and 12 years later he will have this experience as the national coach of our national team. The Italian coach spoke to the volleyball.gr camera about the preparations in Kalamata and Athens and about the Eurovolleyball that starts in the next few days.

“The preparation went well and I’m happy about that. The work we had to do all the time got done despite the issues we faced. The kids responded to the training sessions and through the friendly process we all improved. All athletes were outstanding. You work hard, consistently, focused and want to get better every day. One helps the other. Everyone did a very good job.”

Then, speaking about the European Championship, he said: “I experienced the European Championship as a player and now I will have it as a coach. I am with my athletes, as is the whole team, and we will get through this together. There is impatience before it starts and everyone helps” the good of the team”.

In conclusion, he said of the premiere with Israel: “It’s a very important game. The premiere is also the most dangerous. You have to deal with your emotions. Israel is playing at home and there will be pressure from the crowd. We must be ready for a battle.”

All games are broadcast by ERT3, of course there are updates from the Sportish match center.

The organizing groups

• 1st group (Italy, Rome, Perugia, Ancona): Italy, Switzerland, Serbia, Germany, Belgium, Estonia
• 2nd group (Bulgaria, Varna): Bulgaria, Finland, Slovenia, Ukraine, Croatia, Spain
• 3rd group (North Macedonia, Skopje): North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark
• 4th group (Israel, Tel Aviv): Israel, Romania, France, Türkiye, Portugal, Greece

The program of the national team group in Tel Aviv

Tuesday, August 29th

• 20:00, Israel-Greece

Wednesday 30 August

• 17:00, Türkiye-France
• 20:00, Romania-Portugal

Thursday 31 August

• 17:00, France-Portugal
• 20:00, Romania-Israel

Friday September 1st

• 16:00, Romania-Türkiye
• 19:00, Portugal-Greece

Saturday September 2nd

• 17:30, Türkiye-Greece
• 20:30, Israel-France

Sunday September 3rd

• 17:00, Greece-Romania
• 20:00, Israel-Portugal

Monday, September 4th

• 17:00, France-Romania
• 20:00, Portugal-Türkiye

Tuesday, September 5th

• 17:00, Greece-France
• 20:00, Türkiye-Israel