THE NETHERLANDS
Play By Play
PORTUGAL
Top Scorer
- 37 - Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ (NED)
- 16 - Alexandre FERREIRA (POR)
- 15 - Gijs JORNA (NED)
Officials
Vladimir OLEYNIK
Stefano CESARE
Overview
The clash between the winner of Pool C - the Netherlands, who in the pool phase suffered only one defeat - in five sets against Russia and Portugal who was 4th in Pool A. These teams met for the first time at the European championship since 1951, when Portugal beat the Netherlands twice. Dutch leader Nimir Abdel Aziz is the best scorer of the pool phase, recording 122 points and together with his teammates he hopes to reach the last eight for the first time since 2009.
Head-to-Head
· The Netherlands and Portugal meet at the European Championships for the first time since 1951, when the Portuguese beat the Dutch twice: 3-1 in the group stage and 3-0 in the consolation pool.
· The only other meeting between these nations at the European Championships came in the very first edition in 1948. Portugal won in straight sets.
· The Netherlands (9 wins) and Portugal (5 wins) met 14 times in major world level tournaments (Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, Grand Champions Cup, World League, Volleyball Nations League): once at the World Championships (1956) and 13 times in the World League (2013-2017).
· The Netherlands defeated Portugal 3-1 in their most recent world level meeting, in the 2017 World League.
Netherlands
· The Netherlands progressed to the knockout stage by finishing top of Pool C, only losing to Russia (3-2) in the group stage.
· The Netherlands have not recorded a top-eight finish in the competition since a seventh-place finish in 2009.
· At the 2019 European Championships, Netherlands lost 3-1 to neighbours Germany in the Eighth Final match.
· The Netherlands could record more than four wins at a European Championships for the first time since they registered seven wins in their title-winning campaign on home courts in 1997.
· The Netherlands could win three successive matches in a single edition of EuroVolley for the first time since 2003.
· Nimir Abdel-Aziz won 122 points for the Netherlands in the final round of this tournament, most of all players. Earlier this year, Abdel-Aziz (264) finished as tournament top scorer at the 2021 Volleyball Nations League.
Portugal
· Portugal progressed to the knockout stage by finishing fourth in Pool A. Their two wins came against Belgium (3-2) and Greece (3-1).
· Portugal's only previous top-eight finishes in the tournament came in their first two participations: fourth in 1948 (out of six teams) and seventh in 1951 (out of 10 teams).
· Portugal could record more than two wins at a European Championships for the second time, after four wins in 1951 (including two against the Netherlands).
· Alexandre Ferreira (63) picked up the most points for Portugal in the final round of this tournament.
· Miguel Tavares Rodrigues (10) is one of the few players to have reached 10+ aces in this year's final round.
Alexandre FERREIRA"We have to play to win from the start. The Netherlands have very good players and are playing at a good level, but we have showed good quality and we want to make our country proud."
Portugal Captain & #6
Michaël PARKINSON"We will try to play our own game and focus on our own systems. We are confident and if Portugal adjust to change the game then so will we."
The Netherlands #17
-
Match Polls
-
Officials
First RefereeVladimir OLEYNIKRUSSecond RefereeStefano CESAREITA
-
Venue Information
You can easily reach the venue by using public transportation. The two most convenient means include SKM trains which run regularly from all local directions (leave at Gdańsk Żabianka stop, then take a 10-minute walk down the Subisława and Rybacka streets) and ZTM trams (trams no. 2, 8, 6, 11 – leave at Gospody/Osiedle Wejhera stops, then follow the information boards). In order to get to ERGO ARENA straight from the airport, take the PKM train which has its stop at the airport, then change at Gdańsk Wrzeszcz stop and take the SKM train towards Gdańsk Żabianka. For fans, who are choosing to travel by car, we recommend the so-called Green Route which connects the venue with Grunwaldzka street/Niepodległości avenue – the main Gdańsk-Sopot road. Capacity: 12000
-
How To Attend
, , Capacity: 12000
ERGO ARENA is one of the biggest and most advanced multifunctional venues in Poland. Located right on the border of Gdańsk and Sopot, ERGO ARENA can gather up to 11100 fans during volleyball and basketball games and, depending on the kind of planned event, can bring together from 5100 up to 15000 people. Starting in 2010, ERGO ARENA has been providing Poland with the highest level of entertainment. Get directions
Featured Players
Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ
Bio
Nimir Abdelaziz is the high scoring opposite for the Netherlands. Playing for Leo Shoes Modena next year the 2021 best scorer, attacker and server in both CEV Champions League Volley and FIVB Volleyball Nations League will join the like of Leal, Bruno and Ngapeth. The former setter made his debut against Belgium in a May 14, 2011 friendly match.
Hugo Fernando LUCAS GASPAR
Bio
Hugo Gaspar was born in 1983 and started playing at 14. In 2004 played in Italy at Sisley Treviso winning that year’s Championship, Cup and Super Cup. Returning to Portugal he then played in Vitoria SC, Castelo da Maia GC and since 2010 in SL Benfica. Disciplined and studious, he conciliates his carrier as Medical doctor and high-level sport. Hobbies include travelling, watching sports and cinema.
Team
- KEEMINK Wessel2 Setter
- TER HORST Thijs4 Outside spiker
- VAN DER ENT Luuc5 Middle blocker
- PLAK Fabian8 Middle blocker
- TUINSTRA Bennie12 Outside spiker
- TER MAAT Wouter16 Opposite
THE NETHERLANDS 
Address
De Weerelt, Orteliuslaan 1041 UTRECHTContacts
Previous Games
| 14/09/2021 | vs. |
0 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
| 12/09/2021 | vs. |
3 - 2 | W | Go to Match Centre |
| 07/09/2021 | vs. |
3 - 1 | W | Go to Match Centre |
- All Time
-
28Competitions Played
-
2Titles
- Competition
-
11Matches Played
-
8Matches Won
-
73%Win %
-
28Sets Won
-
1005Points Won
-
51%Attack %
-
53%Reception %
Team
- Birth Date: 1992
- Birth Place: Sliedrecht
- Height: 201 cm
- Birth Date: 1991
- Birth Place: Nijverdal
- Height: 204 cm
- Birth Date: 1989
- Birth Place: Enkhuizen
- Height: 196 cm
- Birth Date: 1991
- Birth Place: Rijssen
- Height: 199 cm
- Birth Date: 1991
- Birth Place: Reading
- Height: 203 cm
- Birth Date: 1990
- Birth Place: THE NETHERLANDS
- Height: 192 cm
- Birth Date: 1997
- Birth Place: Zevenhuizen
- Height: 205 cm
Team
- SINFRONIO Miguel1 Middle blocker
- MARQUES Andre5 Outside spiker
- DA SILVA VIOLAS Tiago8 Setter
- MARTINS Lourenco12 Outside spiker
- ANDRADE Jose17 Middle blocker
- LUCAS GASPAR Hugo Fernando18 Opposite
PORTUGAL 
Address
Avenida de França, 549 PORTOContacts
Previous Games
| 12/09/2021 | vs. |
2 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
| 08/09/2021 | vs. |
3 - 1 | W | Go to Match Centre |
| 06/09/2021 | vs. |
1 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
- All Time
-
19Competitions Played
-
1Titles
- Competition
-
12Matches Played
-
8Matches Won
-
67%Win %
-
30Sets Won
-
1073Points Won
-
46%Attack %
-
54%Reception %
Team
- Birth Date: 1982
- Birth Place: Seia
- Height: 190 cm
- Birth Date: 1996
- Birth Place: Funchal
- Height: 200 cm
- Birth Date: 1989
- Birth Place: Maceda - Ovar
- Height: 193 cm
- Birth Date: 1991
- Birth Place: PORTUGAL
- Height: 202 cm
- Birth Date: 1993
- Birth Place: Venteira - Amadora
- Height: 192 cm
- Birth Date: 1982
- Birth Place: PORTUGAL
- Height: 201 cm
Staff
Recent Results
FINLAND
THE NETHERLANDS
(23 - 25, 25 - 21, 25 - 27, 20 - 25)
TURKEY
THE NETHERLANDS
(25 - 22, 25 - 27, 25 - 27, 23 - 25)
THE NETHERLANDS
RUSSIA
(13 - 25, 25 - 19, 21 - 25, 25 - 21, 13 - 15)
Team Comparison
Team Statistics
Player Statistics
Head to Head
Wessel KEEMINK
Setter
THE NETHERLANDS
Gil PEREIRA
Libero
PORTUGAL
Portuguese team sings their national anthem
Miguel Tavares perturbed by his mistake
Filip Cvetivanin (4) wins the fight on the net
Duth opposite Nimir Abdel-Aziz setting the ball
Wessel Keemink from The Netherlands directs the ball for the spike
MEF-02-THE NETHERLANDS vs PORTUGAL
Portuguese setter Miguel Tavares saved the important point for his team
Nimir Abdel-Aziz with hands up enjoying successful action
MEF-02-THE NETHERLANDS vs PORTUGAL
Gallery
Disclaimer
Photos featured on the CEV Photo Galleries are downloadable copyright free for media purposes only and only if CEV is credited as the source material. They are protected by copyright for all other commercial purposes. Those wishing to use CEV Photo Gallery photos for other commercial purposes should contact press@cev.eu
Nimir the difference as Dutch match Quarters
The third EuroVolley 2021 eighth finals match was held in ERGO ARENA in Gdańsk between the national teams of the Netherlands and Portugal. The Dutch captain, Nimir Abdel-Azis, is seemingly on a mission as he topped the scorer ranking with 122 point to his name. This should of told us the story to come – now post match he has 159!
The opening set started with the team of the Netherlands securing a three-points advantage (7-4). The players of Roberto Piazza’s team managed to keep that advantage for a while, but in the strategic moment, close to the end of the set, the Portuguese players did a really good job in block and this finally let them triumph in this part of the game (25-22).
Highly determined after being defeated in the first set, the Dutch opened the second part with a tough fight (9-5). Similarly like in the previous part, the Portuguese players led by Hugo Silva successfully tied it level towards the end (20-20), but this time it was the Netherlands who scored the last key points to reverse the score from the first (25-22).
The third set seemed to head towards an easy win of team Netherlands, who secured a safe point-distance fairly fast (11-5), but they lost it as quickly as they built it. Team Portugal had even one set ball on its side, but in the last moment the Dutches took the initiative in the match (26-24).
In the fourth part the Portuguese players pushed hard to force it to a fifth and decisive set. They finally achieved that, thanks to their best scorer captain Alexandre Ferreira (16 points scored in total).
The tie-break was a hard fight straight from the beginning, but finally the incredible performance of Netherlands’ team captain, Nimir Abdel-Azis, made the difference and let them advance to the quarter-finals. With two line shots from position two right at the end proving to hot for the Portuguese Libero.
Nimir Abdel Aziz"The victory is the most important. Honestly, I don't care how many points I made, because only the result is important. I don't think that it was a good match on a good level for us, but we won and that's what counts."
captain of the Netherlands
Miguel Tavares"I'm very proud of my team, we are an inexperienced team at this level of competition, so I think that we made a good run. Obviously, when you lose 3-2 and 15-13 in tie-break it's always hard to accept, but I think we played a really good tournament, everyone played a huge role in our team. Today we lost our chance in the second set, we were leading but we lost so it was hard for our morale and it was not easy to come back. Nimir played an amazing tie-break, we couldn't stop him"
setter of Portugal
The match in numbers
The combined total number of points scored by both teams throughout the entire match.
The total length of the match, from the first serve through until the last point has ended.
Total number of people in attendance at the venue – taken at the end of the second set.
The combined total number of successful spikes achieved by both teams throughout the entire match.
An average of the two team service reception percentages from the complete match.
The number of successful point winning blocks of THE NETHERLANDS compared to PORTUGAL.
THE NETHERLANDS number of service aces compared to PORTUGAL
Errors leading to points of THE NETHERLANDS, next to those from PORTUGAL
Top Scorer
- 37 - Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ (NED)
- 16 - Alexandre FERREIRA (POR)
- 15 - Gijs JORNA (NED)
Top Attacker
- 32 - Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ (NED)
- 15 - Alexandre FERREIRA (POR)
- 13 - Hugo Fernando LUCAS GASPAR (POR)
Top Blocker
- 8 - Filip CVETICANIN (POR)
- 3 - Twan WILTENBURG (NED)
- 3 - Robbert ANDRINGA (NED)
Top Server
- 3 - Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ (NED)
- 2 - Gijs JORNA (NED)
- 1 - Fabian PLAK (NED)
Top Receiver
- 13 - Ivo CASAS (POR)
- 6 - Robbert ANDRINGA (NED)
- 5 - André REIS LOPES (POR)