After an intense and educational period at the U17 World Championship in Sofia, head coach Wim De Boeck and assistant coach Pieterjan Deprest reflect on the performances of the Young Red Dragons. The team concluded the tournament with a commendable 6th place, and although the loss in the quarter-finals was disappointing, they are proud of their achievements.

Wim De Boeck, Head Coach: "We can look back with satisfaction on the 6th place at this World Championship. It’s a result we can be proud of, especially given the competition and our performance. Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing the semi-finals, I am particularly proud of the boys' commitment and perseverance. The loss to Spain in the quarter-finals, especially after a five-set match, was tough, but it also showed the strength of this team."

Pieterjan Deprest, Assistant Coach: "The group stages went smoothly, with our only defeat coming against a Brazilian team that played its best match of the tournament. Playing against such a top team was a valuable experience for our players. The victory over Tunisia in the Round of 16 was a great achievement, but the quarter-final against Spain showed us how hard we had to work to secure a result. Despite the loss, we learned a lot. We secured a solid 3-1 win against Egypt, but unfortunately, in the final match against Iran, we couldn’t reach our best level and ended up in 6th place."