Germany clearly loses the start of the World Cup against Bulgaria: 0:3 in Pasay!

Germany clearly loses the start of the World Cup against Bulgaria: 0:3 in Pasay!

The German volleyball players lost their opening game against Bulgaria at the 2025 World Cup in Pasay City in the Philippines. The final score was 0:3, the sets ended at 38:40, 22:25 and 20:25. Despite an initial race to catch up, it was a difficult start to the tournament for the German team. Diagonal attacker Georg Grozer said after the game that it wasn't the German team's day and that Bulgaria did a great job. Now Germany is under pressure not to fall behind in the fight for the round of 16. The next game against Chile will take place on Monday at 7:30 a.m. and will be broadcast live on the ZDF stream.

Right at the start of the game, Germany had to struggle with starting problems. The attentive spectators could see how both teams didn't really find their way into the game, which was reflected in numerous service errors. The encounter was initially balanced, but without long rallies. The Bulgarian block in particular presented the German players with major challenges. After Bulgaria had gained a lead, national coach Michal Winarski took a break to improve his serves and readjust his team. They reacted promptly and scored through Tobias Brand to make it 13:17 and Anton Brehme blocked to make it 14:17.

A dramatic first sentence

In the first set, the German team scored six points in a row, which meant they were able to equalize at 17:17. It became particularly exciting when Tim Peter equalized with an ace to make it 23:23. Georg Grozer then set the first set point for Germany, but it was successfully fended off by the Bulgarians. Nine more opportunities followed for Germany to win the set. In the end, the Bulgarians scored with a net roller serve and happily won the first set 40:38, which visibly put a strain on the morale of the German team.

The following sentences were similar. A lack of concentration and too many mistakes in defense - especially against Bulgarian winger Alexandar Nikolow - made it difficult for Germany to stay in the game. The Bulgarians won the second set 25:22 and the third set 25:20. This result now raises questions. How will the German team be able to assert itself in the coming games against the opponents in the group, such as Chile, who are considered to be the weakest?

A look at group dynamics

The group stage will be crucial for Germany to secure qualification for the round of 16. The final group game against Slovenia awaits on Wednesday. The 2025 Women's Volleyball World Cup, which will take place during the same period, will feature top-class teams such as defending champion Serbia and Brazil. It remains to be hoped that the German volleyball players can pull themselves together quickly and show their strength in order to continue the tournament successfully. ZDF today reports that the pressure for them is now only increasing, while Olympics.com picks up and analyzes the important details about the game.