Germany will play the Netherlands three times in the next month - two friendlies and once at the World Championship
Lausanne, Switzerland, August 16, 2018 – It is nearly time for Germany to fully turn their attention to the Japan 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.
Before they do though coach Felix Koslowski will lead his side in two friendlies against the Netherlands to ensure that everything is in place for their opening World Championship fixture, which happens to be against the Netherlands.
Germany take on the 2015 and 2017 CEV European Championship silver medallists in Munster on August 23 and Bremen on August 25. They then meet again on September 30 in Yokohama. Germany and the Netherlands are in Pool A, along with Japan, Argentina, Cameroon and Mexico.
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The World Championship runs from September 30 to October 20 in six cities across Japan.
“Munster and Bremen are two very important matches for us,” Koslowski said. “It is always very good to play at home in front of our fans, and even better when we’re playing the second best team in Europe. We will prepare well for them and do everything to impress against one of the favourites for the World Championship.
“We will still have a month until the World Championship, so it is good for us to have such tough preparation. We saw how good the Netherlands are and how well they are playing in the Volleyball Nations League. Playing them will help the team’s development and that is exactly what we need in the build-up to the World Championship.”
Earlier in 2018 Koslowski’s side failed to reach the Volleyball Nations League Finals. They finished 11th in the preliminary phase with a record of five wins and 10 defeats.
Since then they have been hard at work at the Olympic Training Centre in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Once the matches against the Netherlands are over, Germany will return to their base and then travel to Italy for a three-team tournament with the hosts, Canada and Turkey.
Koslowski’s team travel to Japan on September 19 and will train in Nishio. They have been placed in Pool A and their first match is against the Netherlands in Yokohama on September 29. Following their opening encounter, they take on hosts Japan, Cameroon, Argentina, and Mexico.
“So far I’m pleased with what I’ve seen,” Koslowski said. “Everyone did their ‘homework’ during their free time, which is why we start with the team in a good physical condition.
“Kimberley Drewniok isn’t with us because she has a heavy cold and Hanna Orthmann is still at the start of her preparation after a meniscal arthroscopy, but we are very positive that they will join up with the team next week.
“Having a break after a very exhausting Volleyball Nations League was very important because the calendar is so full. Since the European Championship last year many of our players have barely gone a week without a match. That is a high physical and mental burden, and why a break was very good.”