Portugal will be one of Bulgaria's opponents in the group stage of the Men's European Championship in Sofia, and days before the start of EuroVolley 2026, head coach João José outlined the direction in which the team is developing.
The Portuguese are in Group "B" along with hosts Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Israel. For Portugal, this will be their fourth consecutive participation in a European Championship, but according to João José, the current team is already different from the one that reached the round of 16 at EuroVolley 2023.
One of the most significant changes is in the setter position. In Sofia, the Portuguese are without Miguel Tavares – their main setter at the 2025 World Championship. Tavares was also a starter in the round of 16 match against Bulgaria, which our national team won 3:0 (25:19, 25:23, 25:13). He is currently training with his club team in Poland, while João José is building a new configuration for this key position in the national team.
The match in the Philippines was also the last encounter between Bulgaria and Portugal at a major forum. The victory sent our national team to the quarterfinals, where one of the team's most memorable matches of the championship followed – Bulgaria came back from two sets down and eliminated the USA with 3:2 (21:25, 19:25, 25:17, 25:22, 15:13) to qualify for the semifinals.
"I think we are at a different stage compared to 2023. Back then, we had a more established core and greater continuity. Over the past few years, we have deliberately included younger players to prepare them for bigger roles," João José told the official CEV website.
The Portuguese coach emphasizes that the change does not mean abandoning the previous philosophy. On the contrary – the goal is to gradually build the next generation of the national team around experienced volleyball players.
"For us, it's not just about changing players. It's about preparing the next generation while maintaining the culture, values, and competitive standards that define this national team," José explained.
An important part of this process was the European League in the summer. Portugal used rotations not only due to the physical condition of the players and the risk of injuries but also to give international experience to more young volleyball players.
Thus, new players, including Diogo Fevereiro, are gradually emerging around established names like Alexandre Ferreira. According to José, the main task is for Portugal to have more equally strong options when the tough matches of the European Championship begin.
"Our experienced players continue to have a fundamental role. Our goal was to increase the depth of the squad, not to change its foundations," the coach said.
José admits that young Portuguese volleyball players are already showing the necessary technical qualities, but the next step is related to resilience under pressure and the ability to make correct decisions when fatigued, traveling, and under physical strain.
That is precisely why the preparation was tailored to the development of young players. At certain moments, the staff even deliberately slowed down the process and returned to already practiced elements, instead of pursuing rapid progress at all costs.
For Bulgaria, this is an important signal before the match against the Portuguese in Sofia. João José's team may not have the same clearly defined core as in 2023, but the coach believes he has a greater choice and more options for changes during individual matches.
"I wouldn't describe this squad simply as more experimental. I would describe it as a group with a wider range of competitive options," José stated.
His message before arriving in Sofia is unequivocal:
"Our ambition remains absolutely the same – we want to be competitive in every match, but now we are doing it with a group that represents both the present and the future."
Portugal reached the round of 16 at EuroVolley 2023, where they were eliminated by Ukraine. Three years later, the two teams are once again in the same group, this time along with Bulgaria, Poland, North Macedonia, and Israel, and the top four in the final standings will advance to the knockout stage.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov