Nikola Grbic wants to defend his European Championship title. The Polish national team coach has a plan

This future, according to tradition, is properly planned by coach Nikola Grbic. The Serb cannot predict everything, but as much as he and his staff are able to predict certain events, he tries to do so.

The Polish coach is a perfectionist, which allows him to achieve regular successes. Suffice it to say that under Grbic’s leadership – from the beginning of 2022 – the Polish team brought medals from every championship event. This shows that the directions chosen by the training staff, headed by the Serb, are simply right.

This is Nikola Grbic’s plan! Poles are fighting at the European Championships

The Olympic runners-up (2024) started the European Championship 2026 tournament with an impressive victory over Portugal (3-0). Planned, but you still have to show your superiority on the pitch. This is what Poles did one hundred percent.

Interestingly, during the match, virtually everyone coach Grbic had on the pitch appeared on the pitch. It must be remembered that the team has 14 players, and 15 went to the European Championship 2026. Jakub Majchrzak, a young center, is a reserve in this case, because such a decision had to be made by the Polish coach.

What is Grbic’s plan? There won’t be many opportunities to train in Bulgaria, where the Poles are stationed. First, it’s a matter of the game schedule itself. The two hours of training proposed by the organizers… are far from ideal. The Serb therefore intends, to the extent possible, to keep his players on the pitch as long as possible.

– There will not be many opportunities to test different solutions. I think that if we use the time well, we will be ready (…) That was the idea, to give everyone a chance to feel the dance floor. The next time a given player can enter at a key moment, at 23:23. It doesn’t work automatically, I know it’s difficult, but they have to stay focused – described the Polish national team coach after the victory over Portugal.

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

It is worth recalling that Poland has won gold in the European Men’s Volleyball Championship twice in its history. Interestingly, in both cases we are talking about successes achieved in the 21st century. Poles won their first title in 2009. The second one, relatively recently, in the previous edition of the Old Continent championship, i.e. AD 2023 – in the final, defeating the Italians in three sets.

When will Polish volleyball players play the next matches of the European Championship 2026?

• Saturday (12/09), 3:00 p.m., Poland – Israel

• Sunday (13/09), 6:00 p.m., Poland – Macedonia

• Tuesday (15/09), 6:00 p.m., Poland – Ukraine

• Wednesday (16/09), 6:00 p.m., Bulgaria – Poland

The best four teams from each group at the tournament will advance to the 1/8 finals. Poles play their matches in Bulgaria, more specifically in Sofia. A sports hall of particular importance for Polish volleyball. In 2012, Poland won the World League finals in Sofia – in exactly the same facility.

Matches of the Men’s European Volleyball Championship are shown on Polsat open air (Poland’s match) and Polsat Sport. On the Internet, you can use the Polsat Box Go platform.