Before the Nations League, the Whites and Reds played two test matches against France in Radom. The two won 4:0, but the rival wasn’t top of the line either. Lavarini was unable to take national team leader Joanna Wołosz to the first tournament, who did not play with France due to a hand injury, but will be taken into account when determining of the composition for the next tournaments. The team was also missing center Weronika Centka, who also suffered a minor injury.
For now, the coach will not use striker Malwina Smarzek and setter Marlena Kowalewska, who were important players for the team during Jacek Nawrocki’s tenure. Both took part in the training camp in Szczyrk and will prepare individually for the second part of the season.
The format of the competition has not changed compared to the previous year. Each team will participate in three tournaments and play 12 matches in the main phase. Polish women will perform in Antalya, Hong Kong and Suwon in Korea. The top seven teams after three rounds plus host United States will advance to the final tournament in Arlington.
The Poles of Antalya will face very demanding teams. While they will be favorites in the clash with the Canadians, it will be difficult to get points from the games against the Serbs or the Italians. Especially since these two top national teams are not quite “made” for Polish volleyball players. The fourth opponent will be Thailand, with whom the Whites and the Reds have always fought fierce battles, often in five sets. Asian women, however, tend to perform better in their continent than in Europe.
The second parallel tournament will take place in Nagoya, Japan.
The White-Reds, although ranked 10th in the world rankings, have the status of a “floating” country in the League of Nations, which must fight for its survival alongside Bulgaria, Croatia, the Dominican Republic and Canada . The weakest team in this group will leave the group of 16 teams.
The trophy is defended by the Italians, already won three times by the Americans.
The Nations League is one of the three most important international events awaiting the Polish team this season. In the second half of August, he will take part in the European Championships organized in four countries: Belgium, Italy, Germany and Estonia. From September 16 to 24, she will play in front of her own public (the host city has not yet been announced) in the qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympic Games.
Broadcast of the Poland – Canada match from 6:50 p.m. on Polsat Sport and online on Polsat Box Go.
