One of the most traditional European tournaments, namely the EFVL Major Schwäbisch Gmünd, took place last weekend, from the 5th to the 7th of July, in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.
The portuguese national representation was in charge of Marco Flores / Bruno Flores (Portugal 1) and Fábio Murraças / Bruno Costa (Portugal 2).
While Portugal 1 appearing in Group A had as direct opponents Spain, Austria and Germany, Portugal 2 had to measure forces in Group D with Israel, Switzerland and Sweden.
The duo from Póvoa do Varzim, Marco Flores / Bruno Flores (Portugal 1) had, in their opening game, Friday, a tricky task against their Spanish counterpart, losing 7 x 18. On Saturday morning, they were much better, beating the Austrian duo by 18 x 14 and thus maintaining their aspirations in the race. However, another defeat on Saturday afternoon against Germany 1 by 18 x 13 put our representatives in the qualifier for access to the Quarter Finals, where they faced Germany 2 who won in 2 sets without answer, 10 x 18 and 10 x 18 dictated the end of Portuguese participation.
The algarvian team, Fábio Murraças / Bruno Costa (Portugal 2), on Friday, opening day, faced the strong pair Israel 2, losing 18 x 10. In the first game on Saturday morning, they didn't give any chance to the Swiss duo winning clearly by 18 x 6. Motivated by the result obtained, already in the afternoon, and against Sweden another victory, this time by 18 x 13, putting the Portuguese team in the qualifier for access to the Quarter Finals, where had to measure forces against the Austrian duo that had lost in the Group Stage against Portugal 1, with the Austrians this time to redeem themselves winning by 2 sets without answer, 18 x 13 and 18 x 15, leaving the duo on the way and at the same time any possibility of Portugal being present in the Quarter Finals of the competition.
In addition to the 2 national teams in competition, the event had national representation at the referee level with Igor Oliveira to be present once again in one of the main European tournaments of the sport.
The big winners of the tournament were Ron Ben Ishay & Maor Haas (Israel) a duo on the rise in the European scene, in a great moment of form, they were giving a spectacle and astonishing the audience present, winning in the game of all decisions the duo Federico Iacopucci & Alain Faccini (Italy) in a highly disputed game, it was necessary to resort to the 'tie set', with the partials of 17 x 19, 18 x 13 and 15 x 13. Completing the podium, Israel 2 who beat Spain in the qualifying game for 3rd and 4th place.
The Federação Nacional de Futevólei congratulates the winners for the result achieved and highlights the relevant participation and performance of the national teams in the competition, which once again endeavored to raise the colors of Portugal beyond borders.
