Czechia 🇨🇿 vs. Bulgaria 🇧🇬 | Semi Finals - Highlights | Men's World Championships 2025

It is Bulgaria in the white jerseys Petkov serving, Czechia in the blue and that's uh let's call that a little loosener to get the semi-final underway. The pair of them very mature in their interviews for young men. Clearly the American influence. Well picked up by Kolev. And the block goes down. There are a couple of big Czechs in the way. That was a really really nice dig from Kolev. I think trying to find the outside hand of Indra but he is solid, he is disciplined and they get the stuff. Here we are early Desmond 2-2 Zajacek. Good serve, good pass by Alex Nikolov. Big smile on the face of Grosvenor. He's loving it out there and we are as well. Block number one of the day and it's a big one on Ganova. That hurts no matter when it happens. Look at that, oh wow. Sparta off it dropped but Grosvenor perfect with his arms. 20-18 another good serve. Bartomek off the net, Indra shut down. Big celebrations from Atanasov. And Indra a little bit quiet here in set number one. The Czechia look at the left hand. Excellent work there from Atanasov on the line. Atanasov serving for the set 24-20. Indra, oh what a pick up by Monik but a free ball and a swing to go. One set up in the semi-final. He is absolutely smashed to smithereens by Alex Grosvenor. This transition offense is fantastic. Look at that big move into the angle again from Alex Nikolov. Gets the free ball. Grosvenor putting his full weight behind that. Yeah, great finish. Almost, almost a warm-up hit. Bang. Klimash serves up off the net. Petkov in a good place. Another good swing. Asparuov. Alex Nikolov. Oh it's close, it's close. That is phenomenal serving from Alex Nikolov. That could work. Nikolov does well. Atanasov, Monik good ball in. Oh great block but the pancake. Now Indra from off the net and Bulgaria can reset. Alex Nikolov, monster block. That will happen so quickly. Waiting with welcoming arms. Great cover there from Monik to keep it alive after the Petkov block. Great on the line there. Let's see if we get the celebration from That's in, yep. There we go. Vashina up off the net and Golev had to react. Oh Alex Nikolov. Alex Nikolov that is delightful. At any point throughout that swing. Bartomek out wide. Oh massive from Monik. I think this is going to be another one of those kind of go up with the soft arms. Zayachek to serve. With the little top spinner. Kolev gets in there. Well played. Super quick to go off the roll but he does the rest. Atanasov 22-23. Monik again. Bartomek's off the net. Well played like Galevov under so much pressure. Galevov serving for the set. They've got two attempts at it. Good serve. Monik out wide. Alex. I can't believe he's gone width of the net there. Anyway set point and they're gonna have a swing for it. Cechia out wide and wide it goes. Oh Bulgaria so close. But Vashina has done it. Third set underway. Alex Grozdanov with the service. Indra with the swing. Alex with the catch. You can't do that. Had that critical ace late. Bartomek. Oh that is incredibly well played. Indra and now they're going to have a swing on it. Is the defense going to pay off? Not yet. Monik out wide. Indra off the net. Great play by Monik. He might want to swing on this instead. It's Alex. Oh wonderful from Monik. Vashina. Oh Aspadov. Incredible. Atanasov. An incredible point. Klimesh. Another good serve. Making Kolev play. That's the kind of risk you want to take. But is setting to Alexander Nikolov a risk at all. 11-11. Side out game. Indra. Only give it a little chip. Alexander Nikolov says this is how you do it. Yeah I mean the trajectory. Preslav Petkov with the service. By the pick. Aspadov getting in on the action. Doing a nice job kind of coming back to help as well and supporting Drozdanov. All he needs is a hittable ball. Good serve but what about that from Monik. Indra. Oh they've got it. They have got it. This misses the mark. Vashina. Monik. Oh Alex Nikolov as he picks up point number 21 of the set. Czech fans as a Zelo. Zajec. Monik right on the net. Great tip. Tonight. Has to be. He goes in shorter. Well played Aspadov. This for the set. Alex Nikolov off the hands and kept up. Monik. Shotala. Can't find the floor. Atanasov. Out to Alex. Serve. Vashina. It's a good recycle. Which way this time? Shotala. The 2-1 down. It is the definition of a must-win set and Bartunek gets it underway. That's a good touch. Vashina. Into his setter. Then out wide. Nice shot. As far as effort goes. Great serve. Atanasov sends it as high as he can. Straight into the block. Monik's there. Alex in its setter. Aspadov sends it into space and Monik closes that space. Gather ball. Speaking of closing Bulgaria. Siding out for a little trip to Brooklyn. Now there's trouble. Oh no trouble at all for Lukas Vashina. Bartunek. It's close to the tape. Monik does so well. Alex Nikolov. He's got it. He has got it. And a down on one knee to celebrate. He's got opportunity here. Shotala. Atanasov. Wow good block and well played. Kolen. Another chance for Alex Nikolov. And the worst thing you can do is give it two swings in a rally. Rolls it in. Good pass Atanasov. Here he is serving for the match. 24-21 for a place in the world championship final. Klimesh denies them for at least one point. Intra. Back out on court as well. Galabov with a decision to make now. Does he go for glory or does he make Bulgaria earn it? He goes for glory and Bulgaria are in the world championship final. This young team. This incredible team continue this remarkable ascent.