Slovenia suffered a serious loss just before the knockout phase of EuroVolley 2026. Captain Tine Urnaut has a foot fracture and will no longer play in the European Championship.
The 38-year-old outside hitter was injured during the 3:1 (24:26, 25:13, 27:25, 25:23) victory over the Czech Republic in Modena. Urnaut left the court in the first set, and after the match, he left the hall on crutches. Slovenian media report that the injury occurred at 16:16 in the first part.
Subsequent medical examinations revealed a fracture. According to information from Slovenia, recovery will take at least four months, which not only ends his participation in EuroVolley but will also affect the start of the club season.
Head coach Fabio Soli reacted immediately and called Klemen Cebul to replace the captain. The 34-year-old outside hitter returns to the national team after a two-year absence and will be available for the first match of the eliminations.
Cebul was not among Soli's chosen 14 volleyball players for the start of EuroVolley 2026. In the initial squad, the outside hitters were Tine Urnaut, Luka Marovt, Rok Bračko, Rok Možič, and Klemen Šen.
Cebul's return comes in an unusual situation. Just a day earlier, he played for his new club Asseco Resovia in a friendly match against Chełm, won 3:1, after which he received the call-up to rejoin the national team.
For Slovenia, the loss of Urnaut is particularly severe due to his vast experience. The captain and Alen Pajenk became the first male volleyball players at EuroVolley 2026 to participate in 10 European Championships. Both have been playing in the continental forum since 2007.
Now Soli will have to rearrange his reception for the decisive part of the tournament, and Cebul is tasked with filling the huge void left by the captain, practically without preparation with the team.

photo:cev.eu