At last year’s European Championships in Belgrade, the Spanish team
played in the so-called Challenge Division. After finishing first, they
were promoted to the Premier Division.
On the first day of the
2008 Liebherr European Championships in St Petersburg, Russia the
Spaniards continue where they stopped a year ago; in the best division
this time. Ramirez, Dvorak and Zhu qualified already for the
quarter-finals in the Group A thanks to a 3-0 over France and a 3-2
victory against Belarus.
Romania in an Uncomfortable Situation
The
Romanian team had a worst case start. Samara, Dodean and Stoian lost
against the German team in the first match. It was a sweet revenge for
the Germans who lost in Beijing at the Olympic Games not even two
months ago.
Romania needs to beat the strong Croatian women
who overcame Germany and Serbia 3-0. If the Germans do not fail
tomorrow in the morning session against Serbia, Dodean and Samara will
probably be out of the race for a team medal.
French Men Want to Challenge Denmark
One
of the positive surprises of the first day in St. Petersburg is the
French team. The rejuvenated "Tricolore" played without any complexes
against Germany, the defending team champion. Although the French lost
3-1, they heated up to overcome Hungary in the evening session with the
same result.
"Oldie" Legout brought his team ahead against
Hungary’s best Janos Jakab. Mattenet and Lebesson finished the team
match after Zwickl had equalised temporarily. "I am very satisfied",
French coach Stéphane Hucliez was quoted after the match. "I am even
very happy because it was the first win of this team with such
performances of the young ones."
Source: www.ittf.com
