THE FOURTH ATTEMPT FOR THE WORLD CUP

The qualifying games of the 2018 World Cup was the main test for our national volleyball team, the winners of the Islamic Solidarity Games. Since the group matches were organized in Baku, this increased the responsibility of the players, and encouraged them to the final stage of the World Cup. Nevertheless, even the most optimistic fans did not expect that the team would achieve the desired, without yielding a single set.

In general, after the return of Faig Garayev as the head coach of the national team, our girls continue the winning series. Last year, the team became the champion of the European League, winning all seven matches. This year Faig Garayev's students achieved the maximum result in Ismayilli, winning all five games, and then won in five more qualifying matches of the World Cup 2018, with a total of 17 matches won.

On the eve of the qualifying stage, joining of the naturalized Natalia Mammadova to the team further strengthened it. On the other hand, Alyona Hasanova’s trauma was depressing. In addition, after the beginning of the qualifying cycle, it became clear that the team captain, Odina Bayramova, was injured. But she was replaced by Yelizaveta Samedova. The player of "Telecom", she was a real discovery of this stage. Eliminating her problems with receiving the ball, the legionnaire from Ukraine was quite active in the attack. Especially it is necessary to note the critical points in the match with Holland. Undoubtedly, the line of attack grew stronger with the return of Mamedova. But it should be noted that Natalia is still far from her best form. But the best period of his career fell to survive Polina Rahimova. She was the "punishing hand" of the team in this tournament. In the absence of Alyona, Aishan Abdulazimova, Aynur Karimova and Xenia Pozniak performed the functions of the blockers. In this regard, we should especially note the performance of Aishan. This player from Sheki was extremely useful both in blocks, in the attack, and in the defense. Although Kristina Yagubova had a certain lack of experience, she did not make the audience feel the absence of Shafagat Habibova. In the construction of attacks, she acted in a variety of ways. However, it is necessary to work more with the blockers and achieve better mutual understanding. Valeriya Mammadova also deserves a warm address. With her vivid performance, the veteran player became an example for the young.

With bright victories over the teams of Holland, Ukraine, Israel, Norway and Denmark, the Azerbaijani team took the first place in the group stage and officially registered its participation in the world championship. The World Cup will be held in Japan next year.

Unlike the qualifying stage of the World Cup, our team has to play with stronger teams. We are waiting for the struggle with such giants as the teams of Japan, China, Brazil, the USA, Turkey, Italy, Russia, Serbia and Germany. Hence, it is necessary with even greater responsibility to prepare for the tournament, and before that - to the European Championship, which will be held in Azerbaijan. The current state of the team increases the confidence that it will be able to win medals at the championship of the continent. Let's also hope that our players will not be injured before responsible competitions. In addition, it is necessary that the national team prepared for them in the best way and its members were at the peak of their physical performance.

Along with the national team, the teams of Russia, Turkey, Italy, Serbia and Germany won the World Cup as winners of their groups. Greece, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Slovenia share the second place in their group and will, therefore, continue to struggle in the playoffs. Eight teams are already qualified to play at the Mundial, which will be held from September 30 to October 21, 2018. Together with six representatives of Europe, the host of the future championship and the last world champion, the US, is waiting for the opponents. In general, 24 teams will compete at the tournament. Japan is the country that held the world championships the most. Next year it will host the fifth Mundial.

Polina Rahimova was the second in the list of the best scorers among the players who participated in group games of 36 teams. In five matches, she has managed to score 100 points. A new member of Fenerbahce lags behind only Julia Kovalenko from Portugal (105 points). 72 points out of 100 Rahimova earned in the attack. Taking the fourth place among the attackers, Polina became the best in the service. On the account of the 17th number 19 aces. True, there are as many aces such as Kovalenko but Ragimova outstripped her by the number of sets played. Aishan Abdulazimova with 11 blocks took 19th place in the list of the best blockers.

In his interview with R+, the head coach of Azerbaijan’s national team Faig Garayev said that he was proud of volleyball players: "I am proud of the team. My girls played boldly and won in five matches, not conceding a single set. The meeting with Holland was very difficult. The Orange team is one of the strongest teams not only in Europe but also in the world. After the intense and full unrest of the first set, we groped our rhythm and managed to achieve the necessary victory."

F. Garaev also reminded that before the forthcoming World Cup, the next goal is the European Championship: "Azerbaijan has won a ticket to play at the World Cup, but very soon we will start preparing for a new test. Our next goal will be the European Championship, which will be held jointly by Georgia and Azerbaijan. We must definitely perform well at the championship of the continent".

Faig Garayev and his team won a chance to participate in the World Cup for the fourth time in history. The national team debuted at the event in 1994 in Brazil and took the ninth place among 16 teams with one victory in the group stage.

After 12 years, the team again took part in the championship in Japan. This time the team held more meetings. Having won two wins with three defeats in the first group stage, the Azerbaijani team reached the second group stage, where it also won two wins with two defeats. But this was not enough to continue the fight, and in the end the team took 13-14 places among 24 pretenders.

Alexander Chervyakov was our head coach at the World Cup held in Italy in 2014. At the first group stage games, the team scored three wins with two defeats and made it to the second stage of the tournament. But our team could win only one games and lost the three others, sharing 15-16 places, and was forced to stop the fight.