Tournament in Brazil
Goosebumps at Grozer: Volleyball player very close to the Olympics
Germany’s Georg Grozer is also popular with Brazilian fans. photo
© Joao Gabriel Alves/dpa
With two surprise victories, the German volleyball players significantly increase their Olympic chances. Returnee Grozer excels and defies age.
The old body of Germany’s exceptional volleyball player Georg Grozer himself speaks, but still gives a lot. In less than 24 hours, the 38-year-old led the German national team to two surprising victories in the Olympic qualification with outstanding performances.
And suddenly the dream of Paris 2024 is very close. “I have goosebumps, I can’t believe what we did here today,” said Grozer after the 3-1 win against hosts and favorites Brazil early on Wednesday morning German time.
The next sensation followed in Rio on Wednesday evening: the selection of the German Volleyball Association also beat world champions Italy 3-1. The Germans are favorites in the remaining games against the Czech Republic, Qatar and Ukraine. The chances of securing one of the two Olympic tickets in the group are extremely good.
Grozer still full of juice
Grozer said after the Brazil game: “I’ll see tomorrow morning how much juice is still in my old body.” There were quite a few. After 27 points against the hosts, he increased it to 31 against Italy. Whenever the momentum for the DVV team seemed to be in danger, Grozer was there.
Even at the disappointing European Championships, the 38-year-old was often the best German player, but in the Olympic qualifying tournament he brought himself back to the absolute top level. And his teammates follow suit. “The team is on a wave of emotions, we take it with us from day to day. I hope things end well here. Everyone is really happy,” said middle blocker Anton Brehme.
After the poor results in the Nations League and the European Championships, the strong performance in Rio was actually not to be expected. Germany entered the tournament as underdogs. “It’s hard for me to describe what’s going on here,” said Brehme. The team has often shown in recent months that it can keep up with the world’s best. After many narrow defeats, the knot has now broken.
Now against the Czech Republic
But Grozer also warns: “We can’t celebrate yet, we still have a long way to go.” After a day’s break, the Germans will face the Czech Republic early on Saturday morning German time (1.30 a.m./VBTV). The only downside at the moment: the team has to do without captain Lukas Kampa, who is out for the rest of the tournament due to a calf injury.
Grozer, Kampa and Denys Kaliberda are the only three players who took part in the last Olympics in London in 2012. Diagonal attacker Grozer returned to the national team specifically for the chance to play in Paris. The 38-year-old also has a very personal incentive: he could attend the games in Paris with his daughter. 16-year-old Leana Grozer was in the women’s national team squad for the first time this year. The men’s selection is close to fulfilling its part of this dream.