Arbutina: Atmosphere in Zadar Better Than at Any Preparations So Far
The Croatian women's national team heads to Gothenburg after preparations in Zadar and a final rehearsal in Riga, with head coach Igor Arbutina believing in advancing from Group D.
The Croatian women's national team heads to Gothenburg after preparations in Zadar and a final rehearsal in Riga, with head coach Igor Arbutina believing in advancing from Group D.
The Croatian women's volleyball team opens the European Championship on Friday, August 21, 2026, with a match against Italy in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Group D first-round match starts at 4:00 PM, with Sweden as the group host, alongside Italy, France, Slovakia, and Montenegro.
Before heading to Sweden, the Croatian national team is conducting its final rehearsal in Riga, where they will play two friendly training matches against the Latvian national team. Head coach Igor Arbutina emphasizes that these matches are more important than previous preparatory games because they come just days before the start of the championship.
"We had excellent preparations in Zadar; I would dare say the atmosphere was better than at any preparations so far. Zadar was a complete hit, definitely. We also played four friendly matches, two each against Egypt and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and won every match. Although that's the least important, the matches against Latvia will be more significant because they come just days before the European Championship begins. Namely, on August 21, we play the first-round match against Italy at 4:00 PM," Arbutina said for HRT.
The coach revealed that the team had some health issues with certain players during preparations, but he believes all problems are now resolved and the team is in optimal form. He particularly highlighted opposite hitter Samanta Fabris, who played against Bosnia and Herzegovina and is slowly recovering from a specific injury that heals slowly.
"We had some health issues with certain players during preparations, but I think we've resolved all of that now and we're in optimal form. Samanta Fabris played against BiH; you could see she's slowly recovering, although that injury is specific and heals slowly, but I believe that by the European Championship, given her experience, she will reach her level," added Arbutina.
The goal of the Croatian national team is to finish among the top four teams in Group D, which advance to the second round. Group D from Sweden crosses with Group B from the Czech Republic in the second round, which includes the host, Austria, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Greece.
Fifteen Croatian players will compete at the European Championship. The setters are Karla Antunović, Vedrana Jakšetić, and Ana Prkačin; the libero is Izabela Štimac; the outside hitters are Leonarda Grabić, Mika Grbavica, Luna Bečić, Josipa Marković, and Maša Mlinar; the opposites are Andrea Mihaljević and Samanta Fabris; and the middle blockers are Božana Butigan, Ema Strunjak, Vikoria Ana Trcol, and Mirta Freund.
