Iran Press/ Europe: Poland managed to be the first team to secure a spot alongside hosts Italy at the men’s Volleyball Nations League 2022 Finals in Bologna.
Poland defeated the reigning Asian continental champion Iran 3 -2 in their opening match of the week on Thursday night in 5 alternating sets.
They won against Iran to be guaranteed a place in the top eight, above the advancement cut-off line.
It was the 24th encounter between the two powerful rivals at major world-level competitions.
The Poles have won 15 of the previous 23.
Iran arrived in Italy with a line-up including only two of their Olympians, outside hitters Morteza Sharifi and captain Milad Ebadipour. However, it features as many as seven of the players who contributed to winning the continental title at the September 2021 Asian Championship. In addition to Ebadipour, these are opposite Amin Esmaeilnezhad, outside Amirhossein Esfandiar, middles Amir Hossein Toukhteh and Mahdi Jelveh, and liberos Mohammadreza Hazratpourtalatappeh and Abolfazl Gholipour.
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