A nightmare for the Polish national volleyball team. It’s hard to believe this scenario!

The volleyball world, not only the European edition, is in shock. The world champions (2025) lost the match that seemed to be a formality for them. Finland’s victory over Italy, also in Turin, is one of the most sensational results in recent years in men’s national volleyball.

Thus, it became clear that the Finns would be in the best four of the European Championships.

Although, interestingly, in the 21st century this team has already had such an opportunity. It happened exactly in 2007.

The Polish volleyball team’s nightmare at the European Championships. The Finns just repeated it!

The current Finnish coach, Olli Kunnari, was a participant in those events nine years ago. Finland then sensationally entered the best four of the Old Continent, achieving the greatest success in its history of participation in the Men’s Volleyball Championships. The captain of that team was Tuomas Sammelvuo – also well known by Polish fans.

During the European Championship 2007, the Finns could have achieved even greater things than what they ultimately did. In the semi-final of the event, Finland faced Spain. Looking at the balance of power in European men’s volleyball, it was a very non-standard set. The Spaniards were already losing 1:2 in sets, and they won the fourth game with a 26:24 advantage. Ultimately closing the match with a 3-2 victory.

Spain won the entire event, beating the hosts – Russians – in the final after a tie-break.

In the bronze medal match, the Finns lost to Serbia 1:3.

The Polish national team also contributed to this success, unintentionally. The team that came to the 2007 European Championship as world runner-up (2006) did not even manage to advance to the knockout phase. Coach Raul Lozano had to deal with significant personnel problems, including the lack of: Mariusz Wlazły or Piotr Gruszka.

However, against Finland, the Poles performed terribly, regardless of the personal situation. Poland lost to Finland 0:3, and as it turned out, in the second phase of the European Championship 2007, the Poles lost all three matches, taking the last place in the table.

In the case of this year’s European Championships, the Poland-Finland meeting may take place at the earliest in a direct medal match. Poles will play in the semi-finals against Slovenia, and Finland against France.

Poland – Slovenia match on Friday from 5 p.m. Slovenia – France a few hours later, from 9 p.m., also on September 25.

ME 2026: The Polish national team defends the title. Where and when to watch Polish matches?

The Polish national volleyball team has won gold medals in the European Championships twice in its history. Poles won in 2009 and 2023. Historically, Poland won its first title in Turkey, and Piotr Gruszka was honored with the MVP award.

The last tournament, the 33rd edition in the history of the Men’s Volleyball Championship, was held in four countries: North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Israel and Italy. Ultimately, in the final battle in Rome, the Poles defeated the Italians 3-0. The MVP award went to Wilfredo Leon.

Looking at the entire history of the Men’s Volleyball Championships, Poland won a total of 11 medals. This is the third best result in terms of the number of Old Continent championship medals won by Polish representatives. There are two gold medals (2009, 2023), and five silver medals in a row (1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983). What is even more interesting, at that time only the USSR volleyball players won the championship titles. In the years 1967-91, the Soviet Union national team won 10 titles out of 11 editions of the European Championship.

Poland won four bronze medals at the European Championships, in the editions of 1967 (the first medal for volleyball players in the history of the European Championships) and more recently – 2011, 2019 and 2021.

The matches of the European Men’s Volleyball Championship 2026 are shown on Polsat open channels (meetings of the Polish national team) and Polsat Sport. On the Internet, you can use the Polsat Box Go platform.