Youthful Bulgaria continue to sparkle

Thrash Italy while Australia beat Poland to top volleyball Group A

Bulgaria’s young team continued to shine at the men’s volleyball on Monday as a convincing victory over Italy, plus Poland’s shock defeat by Australia, propelled them to the top of Group A.

“We have fire because everyone on this team is very young. Everybody wants to play with emotion,” spiker Tsvetan Sokolov told reporters after Bulgaria’s 32-30 25-20 25-19 win at Earls Court.

The team finished fifth in Beijing four years ago but were expected to struggle to match that achievement in London following a difficult build-up that included the departure of coach Radostin Stoychev in June.

“Nobody expected we would [perform so well] but we have shown the world that no one can mess with us,” spiker Todor Aleksiev said.

Bulgaria now play Germany in the quarter-finals while Italy face a tough task against Beijing champions and Group B winners the United States. The top finishers in each group face the fourth-placed team from the other section and there is a draw to determine the other quarter-finals.

The US scored a straightforward 25-15 25-19 25-19 victory over winless Tunisia.

Beijing runners-up Brazil and bronze medallists Russia also qualified for the last eight from Group B along with outsiders Germany. Argentina progressed with a 25-18 25-18 25-15 win over a British team that has failed to win a set in the tournament.