“Dejan, you have to pack, a teammate told me (while watching the match between Slovenia and Poland and the injury to Ropret). And then after about an hour Pajenko called and I started packing. Confusion in my head, I had other plans for the weekend, but I was happy to respond.”
After the semi-final defeat against Poland, the Slovenian volleyball players are firmly determined to end the championship with a victory over the Olympic champions, the French, and thus win the fourth medal in the last five European championships. The organizer of the game could lead them to a new extraordinary success Dejan Vinčićwho – after injuring his ankle – was not on the list of selector Cretu, but he traveled to Rome yesterday after Gregor Ropret was injured in the semi-final.
“It was difficult for me to make the decision that he was not around, but still I always had a big goal in mind – the Olympic Games in Paris. This is the last train for the current generation. We know that we have never been as close as we are now. It would be nice to finish the national team career with the Olympic Games,” said Vinčić for Val 202, who received an invitation to join the national team shortly after the semi-final match (he watched it with a teammate in Bucharest, where he will continue his career).
“Dejan, you have to pack, said my teammate, the Frenchman Marecha. And then after a good hour Pajenko’s call followed and I started packing. Confused in my head, I had other plans for the weekend, but I was happy to respond.“
On his 37th birthday, Vinčić joined the national team in training in the middle of Friday afternoon and filled the gap created by Gregor Ropret’s injury. Of course, Vinčić hopes that he will be able to help the boys in the next campaign – in the qualifications for the 2024 Olympic Games.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – FINALS, Rome, today at 21:00: ITALY – POLAND Broadcast on TV Slovenija 2 and MMC.
Game for 3rd place, Saturday at 5:30 p.m.: FRANCE – SLOVENIA Broadcast on TV Slovenija 2 and MMC.
Source: Rtvslo
