Deutsche Mauer durchbrochen, Flug nach China gebucht.

Slovenian men's volleyball team secured their seventh win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Germany in Belgrade, marking a crucial step toward qualifying for the upcoming World League Nations Final in Ningbo, China. The match, played on July 15, 2026, saw Slovenia dominate the first two sets, while the third and fourth were more evenly contested. With this result, the team has effectively guaranteed its place in the final eight, which will run from July 29 to August 2. This achievement comes after a successful campaign in the second half of the league phase, where Slovenia collected six wins and two losses, finishing in fourth place. The game was held at the Arena Beograd, with Italian referee Lot and Finnish official Aro overseeing the proceedings. Slovenia’s lineup included key players such as Nik Mujanović, who contributed 29 points, and Rok Možič, who tallied 26 points. Germany's top scorer was Erik Röhrs with 22 points. The Slovenian squad had previously defeated Germany in four matches, including a notable victory at the 2025 World Championship in the Philippines. On the world rankings, Slovenia holds sixth position, while Germany is ranked 11th. Coach Fabio Soli emphasized the contrasting performances during the match, noting that the team initially controlled the game with strong serving and blocking, but struggled in the later stages due to fatigue and tactical adjustments by the German side. “We showed two completely different styles in one match,” Soli explained. “In the first two sets, we led and pressed hard against Germany, performing well in both blocking and defense. When the opponent made some changes, we faced difficulties in both attack and block, leading to a more balanced game. However, we managed to recover in the fourth set and eventually secure the win.” The match began with Slovenia taking control early, scoring five consecutive points to lead 7-1. They extended their advantage to a 13-6 lead before Germany responded, but Slovenia maintained a comfortable lead of 20-11 in the first set. In the second set, Slovenia continued to dominate, building a 22-17 lead before securing the set. Germany, however, mounted a comeback in the third set, taking an early 3-0 lead. Despite Slovenia managing to close the gap to 12-11, Germany regained momentum and took a 14-12 lead. The set remained tightly contested, with neither team able to establish a clear advantage until the final moments. In the fourth set, Slovenia and Germany exchanged leads multiple times, with Slovenia briefly leading 20-18 before Germany equalized at 21-20. The Germans appeared more composed in the late stages, extending the match into extra time. Slovenia, however, capitalized on their fourth chance to clinch the decisive point, sealing the victory with a 28-26 scoreline. Slovenia's performance was bolstered by standout contributions from Mujanović and Možič, who each recorded double-digit points. The team’s strategic flexibility allowed them to adapt to Germany’s tactics, particularly in the latter stages of the match. Despite facing challenges in maintaining consistent energy levels, Slovenia demonstrated resilience and composure under pressure. Looking ahead, Slovenia will have a day of rest before facing Iran on Friday, followed by matches against Turkey and Serbia on Saturday and Sunday respectively. The team’s focus will now shift towards preparing for these critical games, aiming to maintain their strong form and ensure qualification for the final stage of the competition. With the World League Nations Final approaching, Slovenia’s success in Belgrade has placed them firmly in contention for a spot among the elite teams competing in Ningbo.