This is what Nikola Grbic taught the Polish national team. “We won with something else.”

Although the Poles were the favorites in Tuesday’s (i.e. September 22) quarterfinal, they had to show their superiority on the pitch. During the first two sets, the Germans did not have much to say against the defending champions and leaders of the FIVB ranking.

It was only in the third set that a fight broke out, but eventually the Poles returned to their solid, even playing. The Germans had a few points advantage, but after a dozen or so minutes the score went from 16:15 to 17:25 to the detriment of their western neighbors. The 10:1 series for Poland at the finish best shows the scale of power we are talking about in the case of our volleyball players.

Nikola Grbic after the Poland-Germany match. Important words from European champions

The Polish coach warned against the quarterfinals. The Germans managed to break Bulgaria in the 1/8 finals, even losing 0-2 in sets, and on the rival’s territory, in a tightly packed hall in Sofia. This time, Massimo Botti’s team did not succeed, although this was certainly due to the Poles themselves.

What did Grbic have to say after winning the quarterfinals?

– I’m satisfied. Of course, we may not have had many aces or blocks, but we touched a lot of balls. We defended well. I think we had a lot of situations that we created ourselves, on the block and in defense. And that’s why I’m happy. Because sometimes, of course, we will win with a serve, we will win with a block. But today we won with something different. And I’m happy because we have this quality. If one element is not at the highest level, there is another element that then does its own thing. I also hope that we will return to good service. It doesn’t have to be a lot of aces, but a stronger serve. And, of course, there’s the matter of the block. But sometimes it also depends on the opponent’s characteristics. The most important thing for me is that we are healthy and playing at the level we are now – admitted the coach, who brings medals with the Poles from every championship event.

Will it be the same in the case of the ongoing European Championship 2026? We will find out about this next Friday (i.e. September 25). That’s when the Poles will play the semi-final match in Milan, against Belgium or Slovenia.

And a day later (i.e. Saturday, September 26) there will be a game directly for medals in the European Championship 2026.

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.

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.