Difficult days for the Polish national team. Volleyball fans were very surprised

However, one may get the impression that exactly what coach Nikola Grbic talked about at the very beginning of the national team season is happening. The wide squad that the Serbian coach of the Poles presented to journalists gathered at a special meeting in Warsaw in mid-April left no doubt.

The 2026 season is the last moment when you can jump into the volleyball team’s locker room. And at least try to start dreaming about going to the Olympic tournament in Los Angeles in 2028. Finally – assuming that Poles go there – the Polish team will defend the runner-up position won in Paris.

Turbulences at VNL in Gliwice. The Poles “quarreled” with the Belgians

However, there is still a lot of time left until the Olympic tournament, and in the minds of most fans what matters is the here and now. It is no coincidence that on the first day of the VNL tournament in Gliwice, the PreZero Arena was very full.

Let us add that the Poles played against the Belgians on the first day to welcome them. A solid rival, but certainly one floor below such powers as the Italians, French, Brazilians and Americans.

This time, coach Grbic opted for the starting position: Marcin Komenda as the playmaker, the duo of receivers Aleksander Śliwka and Artur Szalpuk, as well as centers Bartłomiej Lemański and Jakub Nowak, attacker Aliaksei Nasevich and libero Maksymilian Granieczny. However, as it quickly turned out, the Polish coach quickly made changes.

Nasevich was the first to leave the pitch. Trefl Gdańsk’s attacking team, which had a solid VNL tournament in China, was replaced by Bartłomiej Bołądź. Nasevich returned to the court at 21:22 in the second set, but at 22:24 the volleyball player was gone and Bołądź played again. The position of the attacker is one of the biggest question marks, considering the absence of Bartosz Kurek. I.e. theoretically, because in practice, the head of the legendary #gangŁysego, together with his wife, cheered on his teammates from the pitch in the stands in Gliwice.

Szalpuk gave the team a lot of good energy. The volleyball player, together with Tomasz Fornal and Wilfredo Leon, who were absent that day, is unlikely to be included in the starting lineup of the national team. But if he were to really contribute so much to the team, Grbic may have an important plus on his long list.

The Poles waved a lot during the competition with the Belgians. However, this is the stage of the season and it is difficult to pretend to be surprised. Although there were groans of disappointment when the advantage of the hosts was disappearing, whether the first two sets fell to the Belgians (to 21 and 23). There was also a lot of tension in the fourth set, which the Poles eventually won 28:26. It was then that the previously mentioned Szalpuk scored a point block.

Let us add that Poland was leading 23:18 and 24:20… Which best shows that it is currently difficult to be confident of playing for the European champions from 2023. Wavering and falling are the right choice of words.

Personally, coach Grbic also included Jan Firlej, and Mateusz Poręba and Szymon Jakubiszak tried to play in the middle of the net. Jakub Nowak received the most playing – and rightly so. The one who impressed in the 2025 season, breaking into the small squad of the most important volleyball team in the country from… the first league Lechia Tomaszów Mazowiecki.

Nowak paid Grbic back with a solid performance.

And finally? Finally, Gliwice could celebrate. The Poles won the entire match 3:2, showing that although the composition may be different, the brave hearts are still on the Polish side. And they beat harder, supported by great, irreplaceable fans.

Nations League: Where and when will the Polish national team play its next matches?

The Poles will play three more matches in Gliwice. Already on Thursday against Turkey (8:00 p.m.) and then on the weekend – Saturday and the clash with Germany (5:00 p.m.) and at the end of the tournament in Gliwice – Poland vs. Argentina (8:00 p.m.).

The last intercontinental tournament in which Poles will take part will be the competition in Chicago (July 15-19).

The Nations League finals will be held in Ningbo, China (July 30 – August 2).

Where to watch volleyball matches? Broadcasts are available on Polsat Sport. Additionally, you can use the Internet, among others: from the Polsat Box Go platform.