WHY NOT VENTURE INTO EURO 2009?

The draw for the final round of Euro 2009 in women's volleyball in Poland was quite a good one for the Azerbaijani national team. Faiq Qarayev's team ended up in Group D, together with Serbia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, i.e. quite beatable rivals. If our volleyball players display their usual stylish performance, they might not just progress, but could win their group.

Favourable draw

Of course, for the time being, this is only a prediction and the team have yet to prove that such optimism is well-founded. But we can say already that the draw was quite a good one for our team. It is enough to list the teams in Group A - Poland, Holland, Spain and Croatia, or Group B - Italy, Germany, Turkey and France. Thus, the situation is better than good for our team, and now we only have to take our chance.

If we look at the opposition, the favourites for the group should be Serbia, who have made significant progress in recent years. While the Azerbaijani volleyball players have repeatedly beaten them in the past, it is now going to be much more difficult. Serbia did quite well at the world championship in Japan in 2006 and, one year later, they made the final of Euro 2007, losing to Italy. But the fact that they won silver medals in the championship means a lot and shows that the team have a number of wonderful players. What is more, many players of this team play leading roles in foreign clubs.

Our girls encountered Slovakia during the Euro 2005 qualifiers and are well aware of their potential. In the current qualifiers, Slovakia made it into Euro 2009 by winning their group just like the Czech Republic. Our team have repeatedly met the Czech Republic at Spring Cup games, so they are quite beatable.

Meanwhile, according to competition rules, the teams taking the first three places in their group will make it into the next round and create a new subgroup together with the three best teams of the next group. If our team fulfils their minimum task, they may face Russia, Belgium, Bulgaria and Belarus from Group C. So the Azerbaijani volleyball players have a wonderful chance of venturing into the semi-finals. We only have to train the team and find a formula for victory which will allow us to perform successfully at the European championship in Poland next year.

Greece are no match for us

It is notable that our team made their way to the European championship finals after the first play-off against Greece in Quba, beating them 3-0. Thus, even before the return fixture, the issue of getting into the final of the continental championship had become a mere formality.

Speaking in football terminology, there was only one side in the game. Although the visitors from Greece beat Turkey in the preliminary stage, our volleyball players were recognized as favourites. There was no real contest - although the first set was quite even, the class of the host team made itself felt, and the result was that the game ended 25-20. The following sets followed a similar pattern - at first the two teams were neck and neck, but then our team took the lead (25-15 and 25-15). As a result, they had laid the groundwork for the return match held in Greece a week later. Our coaches could not look to Yelena Parkhomenko, who had still not recovered from a knee injury. On the other hand, Lidiya Maksimenko made her official debut for the national team. Over the last few years, the international federation has refused to give the "nod" for the Ukrainian player to fly the flag for Azerbaijan. She could still play in the qualifiers, but an injury prevented Lidiya from helping the national team. But now nothing could stop her from making her contribution to the team's overall victory.

Natalya Mammadova - the main weapon of the national team - also played at a high level. Her play in the forward line won the host team a number of important points, so the best player in the Champions League of two seasons ago played quite positively - as did all the others on the court that evening. Faiq Qarayev's team prepared seriously for the play-offs, winning friendly games with Belarus and "Uralochka".

Apparently, the preparations were not wasted, and they found their feet in the matches with Belarus and "Uralochka". In the return match in Greece, our volleyball players were up to the mark again. Our team won this game as well, losing only one set to their rivals - 3-1 (29-27, 25-20, 23-25 and 29-27).

Revelations from Oksana Mammadyarova

Sharing her impressions after the draw ceremony, the senior player of our national team, Oksana Mammadyarova, said that the team had a wonderful chance to get through the first group stage and move forward. "If we play our best volleyball, we may be able to aim for the highest places. We have often encountered and beaten Serbia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, so everything is in our hands. Of course, Serbia have made progress in recent years. However, the Serbian players have their own specific style, and once you put the pressure on, they start feeling uncomfortable," Mammadyarova believes.

She said that the current composition of the team compares favourably with last year's. At that time, the coaches could not use the services of a whole number of players for a variety of reasons, which affected the result. But now they have reserves - Polina Rahimova and Aynur Karimova - who have made significant progress. The team are in good shape, which was clear from the play-offs against Greece. "We were quite worried ahead of the match with Greece, but in the end we left them with no chance. In essence, everything was decided in Quba after the 3-0, and in the return game, we only had to finish our rivals off," Oskana continued.

Mammadyarova does not regard herself as a veteran and is ready for new challenges. "Yes, as the oldest member of the team, I support my team-mates and give them advice. What is more, I have more responsibility on my shoulders. But I feel I can still play as if I was still 21 years old," the volleyball player confessed. Quite soon, she will have to show her leadership skills as a member of AzerRail, which will to play in the CEV Cup (Confederation of European Volleyball). "I don't have to say that it is not going to be easy. Our three main players have left, so we may have big problems in defence and in the forward line because there will be no-one to fill the gaps. So the main responsibility will lie with me and Lidiya Maksimenko," Mammadyarova said.

At the same time, Mammadyarova does not want to continue her career abroad, like Valeriya Korotenko and Oksana Parkhomenko, who play for Fenerbahce, and Natalya Mammadova, who plays for Turk Telecom. I used to play in the Turkish championship. But believe me, I don't even want to leave Baku now. Being at home is quite helpful, as I am surrounded by my loved ones and my daughter is growing up. So I am not thinking of changing the environment," she said.

Coming back on to the European championship which will be held next year, Oksana thinks that time is on the team's side. "The coaches have enough time to train the reserves and the young ones will be able to gain enough experience. The most important thing is to prepare for Euro 2009 and go to the contest in good shape," Mammadyarova said in conclusion.