Idman.biz
The Netherlands national volleyball team will be one of the brightest teams at the 2026 Women's European Championship to be held in Baku.
The winners of the European Championship were drawn in the same group as Azerbaijan. It should be noted that the matches between our national teams are always quite interesting and intense.
Celeste Plak, the leader of the "Oranje" for a long time, shared her expectations about the tournament in an interview with Idman.biz and recalled other matches held in our capital.
- The draw held in Bari, Italy was remarkable, because as a result of this draw, the Netherlands national team became rivals with Azerbaijan. What were you thinking at that moment?
- I guess at that moment I thought that another interesting volleyball adventure awaited us (laughs). In fact, I already miss this feeling, because previously the European Championship was held every two years. But then the calendar changed, the World Championship switched from a four-year cycle to a two-year cycle, and the interval between major European tournaments was temporarily extended to three years. Therefore, I am sure that many are looking forward to the 2026 European Championship.
- The Netherlands national team performs stably in the European Championship and won a bronze medal in 2023. Does this result give you additional confidence on your trip to Baku?
- Of course, we have achieved considerable success in the continental competition. If we look at the last five championships, we have reached the final twice and won a bronze medal last time. We have a good team; the team recently reached the 1/4 finals of the world championship held in Thailand. So we have all the prerequisites to perform strongly in the European Championship.
- You participated in the European Championship held in Baku in 2017 and won a silver medal. Which of those matches are remembered in your memory?
- In my memory, this was one of the most difficult tournaments. As far as I remember, the group stage games were held in one of the regions of Azerbaijan (Goygol - ed.). We finished second in our group, losing to Serbia, and then came to Baku for the play-off games. After defeating Croatia, we managed to beat Italy in the 1/4 finals, and then we faced Azerbaijan in the semi-finals. I still remember that incredibly difficult game. At that time, we won in the tie-break and reached the final, but we lost to Serbia. Who knows, maybe the energy we spent in the semi-finals was the reason for our defeat in the decisive match. But I have the fondest memories of the championship.
- After eight years, the Netherlands team will play in a familiar venue - the National Gymnastics Arena...
- That is a magnificent complex and I hope to feel the atmosphere of the European Championship again. I remember when I went to the arena for warm-up exercises, the hall was full of spectators. There is interest in volleyball in Azerbaijan, I remember in 2017 we were mainly defeated by your team in three sets in the qualifying stage of the world championship. Therefore, meeting with the local team is always difficult. But we need to look to the future. What is important for me now is not to get injured, to have a good club season and then to prepare for the European Championship.
- Where will you start the new season?
- I am returning to Italy, I will play for Milan's "Numeo Vero Volley" team. Last year the team reached the Final Four of the Champions League and finished second in Serie A, so I am really looking forward to the new season. I have very high expectations and I hope it will be successful.
Zaki Feyzullayev
