Revolution in the Polish national team! A unique situation during the European Championship

Few people expected that in the context of Aleksandra Szczygłowska, such a surprising situation could arise as happened during the European Championship 2026. The captain of the Polish national team was almost reliable, considering her health throughout her career – and over many seasons.

However, as it turned out, due to a mysterious infection, one of the best liberos in Europe had to withdraw from the 2026 season event.

– Unfortunately, due to infection, my participation in the European Championships has already ended. Today I returned to Poland and will undergo further treatment. This is not how I imagined these weeks, I tried to fight with the thought that my body would endure it, but at the moment I am forced to concentrate on my recovery. I would like to thank the medical staff, Polish Volleyball and my manager, Jakub Dolata, for comprehensive care and its organization as well as respecting my privacy. Thank you all for your concern and please focus your attention on the girls who are going to get theirs! – admitted Szczygłowska, already aware that the European Championship 2026 tournament was over for her.

A big change in the Polish national team. Revolution during the tournament!

However, the Polish women, without their current captain, continue their winning course. All matches won in the group phase, plus Monday’s (i.e. August 31), in the play-off phase, against Portugal.

Now it’s time for the quarterfinals of the European Championship 2026, where the Dutch players are waiting. Captain Szczygłowska was replaced by Magdalena Stysiak.

– I never wanted to be a captain for off-field reasons: someone sets something up, someone asks about the colors of the shirts, what time we will do this or that, interviews… Because of all these things around us. I’m here to practice volleyball and that’s it. I didn’t want to deal with extra things. But that’s just how it turned out now. I’m proud of it and I hope I’m doing well, but you have to ask the girls about it (…) In the matches against the national teams of Slovenia, Germany and Turkey, these young girls who joined the national team for the first time noticed what it all looked like, “what it all means.” The next match is important, the opponent is very good, so I think our girls will also keep their nerves under control and we will win this match. And it will be what everyone dreams of – admitted Stysiak in an interview with Damian Gołąb from Interia.

The Polish national team’s attacker fulfills her duties properly. Let us recall that before Szczygłowska, the captain of the volleyball team was Agnieszka Korneluk. However, one of the best midfielders in the world ended her career after the 2025/26 season, both in the club and national team.

The Poland-Netherlands match will take place on Thursday (September 3) at 3:00 p.m. Polish time. At stake will be promotion to the medal zone.

Men’s Volleyball Championship: Where and when to watch the Polish national team’s matches?

In the context of medal hopes, it should be remembered that the Polish national volleyball team has been waiting for a medal at a European Championship event since 2009. Then, for the last time, the Polish team could enjoy a place on the podium, the lowest one, i.e. valued at bronze.

Coach Lavarini’s team therefore faces a big challenge to overcome the weakness that has been going on for almost two decades.

At the last European Championships, held in 2023, the Polish team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Turkish team. As it turned out, Türkiye later won the final triumph, defeating the Serbians in the final (3:2). The bronze medal went to the Dutch.

It is worth adding that in the all-time European Volleyball Men’s Championship table, Poland ranks high in 5th place. This included two gold medals, four silver and five bronze. That’s a total of 11 discs. Of all (!) teams, only the leading representatives of the USSR (16 medals), a non-existent country, have more medals. Interestingly, the runners-up are… Russians.

Men’s European Volleyball matches are shown on Polsat Sport and online via the Polsat Box Go platform.