Czechia 🇨🇿 vs. Iran 🇮🇷 - Quarter Final | Highlights | Men's World Championships 2025

It is quarterfinal time in the World Championships. One is staying on until the death. The other is heading home. Lubos Bartomek, the setter, gets this underway. And Morteza watches him. He's a little bit more steady in his emotions. Yousef with the service, taken with high hands. And oh, what an up! Off the shoulder to give him a chance. And it's a chance taken by Bhaji Paul. And you saw Arshia didn't even think about putting his arm anywhere near Bhaji Paul on this celebration. Oh, yeah, right in the throat. Perfectly dug. So Yousef goes the same way. Important for Czechia to get something. And it is Patrick Indra who gets it. Some serve for Morteza. Little shorter this time. Well read by the libero. Good side out. Svashina with the swing. Svashina goes after it. Well saved. A chance now for Czechia to take the lead. Oh, delivered. Back to back caught by Svashina. The follicular strength of the Czech team is solid. Borja, strap in. There he goes. Great first touch, though. And a little tip from Klimec. Iran back ahead. That's in short. Klimec with the reception out wide. Has to go down and does. Galibov. Turn to serve. Great pass. Oh, great dig. It wasn't a clean hit. Czechia win the joust. Czechia win the point. Svashina, power off the hands. I mean, we talked about the muscle maturity. You might beat Klimec with a little strength, but he makes a great play through that joust. Give his team another opportunity for Svashina to close. And Mohamed serving for the set at 24-21. Good first touch. Oh, buried by Klimec. He's got something about him, this young man, doesn't he? Galibov. Oh, for God. We were talking about it can be soul-crushing to build a big lead and give it away. There's a look at that final play. And he's outside the court anyways with his finish, right? Yeah, he is. I think that's kind of the modern ratio there. If you're hitting at 80-20 and you've got some of the serves that Iran has, that's a really, really good ratio. Second set underway. And underway with an overpass. Immediate opportunity for Iran. And then Correa takes full advantage. I feel like Chechya have a little bit of nerves out there, because that was relative. Zayachek. Morteza, another good ball in from him. And then a rise from backcourt. He is a joy to watch at times. Indeed, between Morteza and Hajipur, the full-body tension celebrations are awesome to watch. Pivic bashing up. Another good one. Morteza. Hashia with the bump. Correa! Into the block and down. Big celebration from Zayachek. Chechya nudged in front, but Iran responded. Yousef. Good pass, but should be sided out. And it is. Indra. Zayachek with the serve. Morteza with the pass. Oh, three of them out. Hajipur. 13-13. It's a bit more fluid in attack. Here is Hashia. Float serve. Galabov with the first touch. Out wide and Vashina. Down the line from Vashina. Tasked with serving the 24-0. All right, we're going to extras. Good serve. Oh, he got it. H-serve is from Shatula. Set point, Chechya. Set point down, 25-24. And makes a great pass. And Correa hits the net, but finds the floor. Serving for the set. Great serve. Wide serve. Chechya, turn it on and steal the second set in the 20s. Third set underway. They've changed ends. Iran looking to side out through Podia. Not getting it first time. But Maktoumen can't get a good contact. It's a little slice on it. Oh, Zayachek. He's just got to snap it in like he did that last time. Top spinner. Malteser receives. Oy, oy, oy. Yusef. And Klimash. Breaks through Cesar for him with the national team. Lovely. Really nice from Vashina. Turned into two points, but you just don't believe that that can continue. Hachapur. Oh, the monster. That is huge from Vashina. One on one. Vashina. Goes for it. Doesn't quite get it, but trouble here. Not Hachapur's ambition, but maybe there was a better choice there. Vashina. Better first touch. Oh, what a block, Zayachek. That would be a start if he could double his tally. Vashina. Out wide. A little bit too passive. Nothing passive about that. Paria. Oh, no. There's a net set. And he did it right in the middle of the circle. For a 2-1 lead. Good serve as well. Paria receives it. And then comes through from backcourt. That is a no mercy play from Paria. Absolute thumping from Paria. Great pass. Get it. Arshia serving to stay in the set. Miles wide. And Chekhiyeh come from behind to take a 2-1 lead. No changes for Chekhiyeh. And a must win set for Iran is underway. It's 2-1 Chekhiyeh. And it's 1-0 because Patrick Indra has sided out with the first point. Bartunek. Haqperast with the touch. Haqperast with the swing. Sent high, not the most controlled. Oh, my goodness. What a connection. Now it's a free ball, Chekhiyeh. Bartunek, Indra, 2-0. Hachipour goes in short. Received by Klimesh. Oh, the pipe is clean for Vassiliev. I credit the youngster. Not only does he take that short ball in reception, but look, he pulls Yousef. Monik with the first touch. Out wide. Big block, but what a touch by Monik. Wow. And the swing is down from Indra. Incredible. That is top level liberal play. Watch this cover. Preparation leads to a little bit of good fortune. Zayacek with a nice reaction. It's been so good for them, I thought. Finally, a touch on the middle. Oh, my goodness. Dear Lord. Vassiliev. Wrong back foot. Look how not thirsty he is by it all. He is fully, fully in the zone as the timeout is called. Absolutely. And this is a perfect delivery. Great touch, finally. And then Bartunek. Chekhiyev responded extremely well. What a serve. It's over on one. Great chance to get a point back. And they do exactly that. Hachipol. 19-14. We're about to go to the semis, perhaps. Yeah, he's playing in the biggest game of his career. Moteza up against three. They get a good touch. Indra feeds it in. Oh, my goodness. Yousef. Big block. Big moment. Because Shortala is in. It is match point to send Chekhiyev to the semifinals. Oh, straight to the middle. First match point saved. Mohamed. It's now or never for Iran. It is match point. Chekhiyev. Great serve. This is a tough swing. Oh, my goodness. And it's in the corner. And it sends Chekhiyev to the semifinals for the first time since 1970. Wow, what a swing from Kalabaf to close it out.