Poland is once again at the European top! "Drużyna Polska" defended its title after defeating Olympic champion France with 3:1 (31:29, 25:19, 20:25, 25:16) in the EuroVolley 2026 final at "Unipol Forum" in Milan.
Thus, Nikola Grbić's team became the first team in 21 years to win two consecutive European men's titles. Italy last did this, triumphing in 2003 and 2005. The "Squadra Azzurra" has one more successful title defense – in 1993 and 1995, while in the more distant history of the tournament, the USSR also had series of consecutive European titles.
The triumph also has even greater value for the Poles. The European title brought Poland a direct quota for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. The final against France was precisely to determine the holder of the European Olympic ticket. This was also a repeat of the Paris 2024 final.
The grand final offered a lot of high-level volleyball, but one moment at the end of the first set proved crucial for the development of the match. The French were just one point away from taking the lead, but a video review changed the situation and gave new life to Poland. At 26:25 for France, Bartłomiej Lemański attacked through the center, the ball went out, and the French already looked like winners of the set. However, the Polish staff requested a video review, which established a net touch by France. Instead of 27:25 and 1:0 for the "Roosters," the score became 26:26. This proved to be the turning point in the first part. The battle continued point for point, and at 30:29, Bartłomiej Bołądź scored a passing ball, and Poland snatched the dramatic set with 31:29.
The psychological advantage was now on Nikola Grbić's team's side. In the second set, the Poles pressed their opponent from the start. After an attack by Wilfredo León from the back row, they took an 8:3 lead, and an ace by Lemański made it 11:4. France found no way to come back, and Poland closed the set at 25:19.
However, the Olympic champions did not give up. In the third set, Andrea Giani's team significantly improved their game, took a 4:1 lead, and subsequently opened up a 10:4 advantage. Moussa Gueye came in strong through the center, the French maintained control, and with 25:20, they reduced their deficit to 1:2.
The Polish response was emphatic. Kamil Semeniuk, who came in from the bench, also played an important role. France stayed close to their opponent until 7:8, but then the Poles gradually pulled away. A block against Gueye made it 15:9, and at 18:12, the European champions already had the final in their hands. Poland won the fourth set with 25:16 and closed the match with 3:1 to defend the European crown.
Interestingly, the most effective player in the final was French. Mathis Enard finished with 20 points, 6 of which were blocks, and Théo Faure added 18.
For Poland, Bartłomiej Bołądź scored 16 points, with an impressive 8 coming from blocks. Wilfredo León and Tomasz Fornal added 13 points each, with León recording 6 direct points from serves.
These numbers also show one of the great strengths of the Polish squad – the burden did not fall on a single scorer. Bołądź, León, and Fornal distributed the points among themselves, and Poland received a huge contribution from Bołądź's blocking and León's serving.
However, the final could have gone in a completely different direction. At 26:25 in the first set, France was just one awarded point away from 1:0. The video review brought Poland back into the set, "Drużyna Polska" survived the drama to 31:29, and three sets later, they were already celebrating a second consecutive European title and an Olympic quota for Los Angeles.

Bulgaria remained the only team to defeat the champion

EuroVolley 2026 also left a very curious Bulgarian mark. Bulgaria remained the only team that managed to defeat Poland on its way to the European title.
This happened on September 16 in the last group stage match in Sofia. In front of about 13,000 spectators at "Arena 8888 Sofia," our national team won the incredible five-set battle with 3:2 (20:25, 31:29, 25:23, 19:25, 20:18). The match lasted 144 minutes, and CEV then noted that Bulgaria had inflicted the first defeat on the reigning European champion in the tournament.
It also turned out to be the last one.
After that evening in Sofia, Poland did not suffer another defeat. Nikola Grbić's team went through the eliminations, reached Milan, and finished EuroVolley 2026 with the gold. Thus, Bulgaria remained the only opponent who managed to defeat the new-old European champion in this championship.

photo:cev.eu