Germany take European League gold after a thrilling five-setter

Germany won the gold medal of the sixth edition of the CEV Men’s European League after a thrilling five-setter against Spain. The Germans defeated the European champions Spain 25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-7 Sunday at Portimão Arena in Algarve to take their first European League trophy. Host Portugal claimed bronze with a straight-set victory over Slovakia.



In the final encounter of the 2009 Men’s European League facing European champions Spain and Germany, the Iberians had difficulty finding their range at the beginning in the opening set; the Germans were kept on course through some aggressive attacks and blocks from Gyoergy Grozer. The German team, starting without their super star Jochen Schoeps, came into the second technical timeout in front 16-8, following another Grozer hammer from the right side. As in their semifinal against Slovakia, the Spaniards were mentally not ready to play the first set on their standart level. They tried to return with some classic play, but it was the German block that impressed, notably Grozer and Wiebel. Max Guenthoer continued his top form, delivering another skillful block, to move the Germans ahead, 22-18. The Spaniards looked in peril, having difficulty breaking through before awarding Germany the first set at 25-20.
Some classic winners by Grozer on the right and a majestic serve ace from Patrick Steuerwald still triggered applause of the audience in the Portimão Arena in the second set, but Spanish players obviously raised their game, coming into the first technical timeout trailing only by two. The Iberian skippers swatted some fine winners, delivering a 4-0 run, and Germany head coach Raul Lozano called a timeout at 8-10. The momentum had changed, and the experienced Iban Perez and Israel Rodriguez kept points coming for Spain with breathtaking blocking and fine winners, moving them four points ahead at the second technical timeout, 16-12. Perez again climbed well on the right to beat the strong German defense and was able to pull back one set for Spain after a lob, 25-21.
Germany came out for the third set with vastly improved blocking and attacking, jumping to a 5-1 lead and prompting an early timeout from Spain. Alberto Salas pounded some winners on the left for Spain but it was Germany that came into first technical timeout ahead 8-4. The never-say-die Spaniards tried to return with a comeback, sometimes cutting the lead to within three points. However, Germany claimed the set 25-20 at last after a Grozer missile from back court and a poor Falasca serve.
The Spanish team showed some battling quality in the fourth set and reached the first technical timeout at 8-3. The 2007 Eurpean League winners continued the pressure upon Germany and stretched the lead to 16-8. The set was over as a contest now; and when Perez brought up set point for Spain at 24-17, both teams were already focussing on the upcoming tiebreak.
Spain did not help themselves with poor attacking in the tiebreak, 0-3 after three glorious German blocks. Perez and Schwarz exchanged winners through to 6-2 in Germany’s favor, and Schoeps found some room with a well-placed spike for 7-4. Schoeps again beat the red block for 8-4 Germany at the turnaround, and a Schoeps ace on the restart sent Spain into a timeout, trailing by five. Germany capitalised on a loose Spanish attack to make it 10-4, and Wiebel's block for 13-6 dashed the Spanish hopes for a comeback. Rodriguez sent his serve too long to bring up match point for Germany at 14-7, and Schwarz closed it out with a clever block kill on the right to secure gold.

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