Poland secured its second and third overall European Men’s Volleyball Championship title by defeating France 3-1 at the Forum di Assago in Milan on September 26. Coached by Nikola Grbic, the Polish squad claimed the gold medal with set scores of 31-29, 25-19, 20-25, and 25-16 before an audience exceeding 11,000 spectators, successfully defending the continental crown they won in Rome in 2023.
Match Summary and Championship Details
The gold-medal showdown marked the third time in EuroVolley history that the reigning Olympic champions faced the reigning European champions, following prior instances in 1977 and 2001. Poland’s victory over Andrea Giani’s French team also secured the squad an automatic qualification berth for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In the third-place playoff held earlier in the day on September 26, Finland defeated Slovenia 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 29-27) to capture the first European Championship medal in the nation’s history.
Tournament Results and Final Four Standings
During the semifinal matches on September 25, Poland advanced past Slovenia with a 3-0 scoreline (25-23, 25-23, 25-18), while France defeated Finland 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-18, 25-15). The subsequent medal fixtures on September 26 settled the final podium spots, with Finland overcoming Slovenia for the bronze medal prior to Poland’s four-set victory over France.
Individual Awards and Dream Team
At the conclusion of the tournament, the official EuroVolley Dream Team was announced, alongside the tournament Most Valuable Player:
- MVP: Wilfredo Leon (POL)
- Opposite Hitter: Théo Faure (FRA)
- Setter: Antoine Brizard (FRA)
- Libero: Jakub Popiwczak (POL)
- Middle Blocker: Bartlomiej Lemanski (POL)
- Middle Blocker: Szymon Jakubiczak (POL)
- Outside Hitter: Wilfredo Leon (POL)
- Outside Hitter: Nooa Marttila (FIN)
- Head Coach: Nikola Grbic (POL)
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