Press release

London, Great Britain, August 10, 2012 - Russia coach Vladimir Alekno answered the Russian journalists, asking about te pressure they had: "Pressure? We experience the same thing every year, which I would call hysterics of success. This creates a lot of pressure for us and expectations to make no mistakes. Everyone of my player played because it is hard for any of them to sustain all the match. Taras Khtey is very important for the team as a captain and a personality."

Russia middle blocker Alexander Volkov said: "Bulgaria team is different from others because they came without any pressure. So it was an easy way for them to make the semifinals and I have to say they played fantastically. It was hard today for us to play with them. Having won two sets we felt a bit relaxed, especially with the big score margin in the second set. At that time they pushed us and that was the time for us to come back."

Bulgaria coach Nayden Naydenov simply added: "I wish Russia the best for the final. It was a match we managed to keep going, but in the end we lost."

Bulgaria captain Vladimir Nikolov pledge the opponents: "I would like to congratulate the Russian team. They played better than us today and deserved the victory. I think we fought pretty well, but in the end we could not close the sets, particularly the first and fourth, where we had possibilities."

In the mixed zone the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev stopped to congratulate each of his players: "We just missed two balls for the fifth set against Russia. But now we can go for the bronze, winning a medal would be a big success for our country. I’m proud of the team and how they got back during the match from a difficult situation. I love volleyball and I’ll be here on Sunday to cheer my team."