HEARTBREAKING.
Despite winning the 2015 CEV European League and the silver medal at the 2015 European Championship, Coach Giani, Klemen Cebulj, Tine Urnaut, Mitja Gasparini and Team don’t have enough points to be in the Top 8 and are NOT qualified for the upcoming European Olympic Qualification Tournament in January 2016.
The tourney will be hosted by Germany and will be held in Berlin.
The teams that have unofficially qualified for the very important tourney are:
Russia
Poland
Serbia
Bulgaria
Germany
France
Finland
Belgium
The winner from this tourney advances to the 2016 Olympics. The 2nd and 3rd placed teams will have another shot at the World Olympic Qualification hosted by Japan in May 2016.
Italy is so far the only European team qualified for the quadrennial event. Italy joins host Brazil, Argentina and USA.
We hope this news will not discourage Slovenia from becoming another European powerhouse. They need to start doing well in continental and international tournaments (like the 2016 FIVB World League) to be in the Top 8 and prepare for the 2020 Olympics.
(images: cev.lu)