So "Referee" and "may" are the magical words concerning this substitution rule. I'd go with Ruiter/Barning for XD. Either way it should be a really close match-up!
German players seems to have some problems. Zwiebler won only in the 3rd set 22:20 against Leverdez! And Schenk is "only leading" 14-13.
I guess there must be something to this home advantage. All are playing very inspired, only Diehl was nervous in the first set and finally found her composure whilst Stolzenbach completely lost hers. Pang looked like he was wondering "what the bleep am I doing here anyway" ...
Very promising performance of the Russian team today! I guess, they will give Germany a hard time tommorow in the semi-finals.
that and he is the only one left of his generation in this squad. Well Rune, the coach, is of his generation but the rest are the future generation ...
Lineups are posted already: XD: Fischer-Pedersen vs Adcock/Wallwork MS: Axelsen vs Ouseph WS: Kjaersfeldt vs Walker MD: Boe-Mogensen vs Adcock-Ellis WD: Juhl-Pedersen vs Olver-Smith I guess White must be injured or something(?) ... XD: Sozonov-Sorokina vs Fuchs-Michels MS: Ivanov vs Zwiebler WS: Diehl vs Schenk MD: Ivanov-Sozonov vs Kindervater-Schoettler WD: Sorokina-Vislova vs Michels-Schenk
^Maybe Ivanov/Sorokina would have been an even better choice for tommorow's match, I don't know. Just a thought, because they played really well today.
in this format RUS should get through, GER will win the singles but it will be hard to get the third win. thats on paper of course, hope they will prove me wrong also reading demolidors prediction i agree here and there; but to me it feels like axelsen will have no problems with ouseph, so i want to paw on that
I think the singles and the MX are relatively safe for Germany, MD can go either way, WD favours RUS,
Yes the home factor certainly plays a part. Even the Danish coach said in the interview that he considered Russia to be the biggest challengers to Denmark because of a strong team and the advantage of playing at home. And just like it was no coincidence that Henri Hurskainen played the tournament of his life when the EC was held in...Sweden. I think Ivanov will win in 2 sets over Marc Zwiebler, who struggled a lot today. Schenk will secure the 1st and only point for Germany, as Ivanov and Sozonov secures the win in MD. But who knows... If Germany could steal a win in the very important 1st match, the XD, they might be able to upset Russia.
ENG team equals 1-1 through Rajiv Ouseph who def. young Dane Viktor Axelsen 21-16 / 21-12. Next, WS match, will ENG lead 2-1?