In the last official meeting, two years ago in the Golden League, Sweden won the final against the Czech Republic. On Monday, the teams will meet again in the round of 16 of the European Championship, where the Czech Republic is the host nation.
It will be a big advantage for us, says Czech national team captain Ioannis Athanasopoulos.
Turned underdogs
Just like Sweden, the Czech Republic has turned matches around during the group stage, after falling behind by a large margin. In the first set against Bulgaria, the Czech Republic managed to turn an 8-19 deficit into a 28-26 win.
We can't go into the match too softly like against Bulgaria, then Sweden can find the rhythm and then it will be difficult to stop them, says spiker Michaela Mlejnková.
She also believes that was the key to Sweden winning the Golden League final.
We didn't have patience and couldn't get through the difficult moments in the match.
Since the last meeting, the Czech Republic has played more cohesively and faced several top teams.
I think it will be very even, says Isabelle Haak before the match.
The Czech national team captain smiles cryptically when TT asks what is needed to stop Isabelle Haak, who brings an improved scoring record to the playoffs in the Czech Republic.
We have to try to control our emotions in difficult moments and of course try to stop players like Isabelle Haak, but she is not the only one, says Ioannis Athanasopoulos and pauses:
We'll see tomorrow.
You're not going to tell us anything more about your strategy?
No, I think that's enough, says Athanasopoulos, laughing.
“She will make her points”
Michaela Mlejnková has faced Haak's club team Imoco Volley Conegliano when Mlejnková played in Volleyball Bergamo.
"So I know how difficult it is. She will score her points, we have to let her and focus on what we can control," says Mlejnková.
The fact that Isabelle Haak is in focus is no surprise to the Swedish national team captain.
Every top team has its diamond, says Lorenzo Micelli.
Sweden's women's volleyball team came third in the European Championship group stage in Gothenburg, which is the best group-stage result that a Swedish women's national team has achieved in the championship.
Four of the six teams in the group made it to the playoffs and Sweden was therefore qualified for the round of 16.
On Monday at 7:00 PM, the host country, the Czech Republic, will be the opposition.
The match will be played in Brno and will be broadcast on SVT/SVT Play.
